Patsy Palmer didn't want her son to be an actor.
Patsy Palmer
The 'EastEnders' actress is thankful Charley Palmer Rothwell - who she has with former partner Alfie Rothwell - didn't listen to her advice because the 27 year old has landed a lot of steady work in his chosen field.
Asked if she encouraged Charley to act, she said: "No, I was a typical mum, 'Don't do it! You can get a really good profession.' Luckily, he didn't take my advice. He's never out of work."
Patsy - who now lives in California with her husband Richard Merkell and their kids Fenton, 19, Emilia, 17, and nine-year-old Bertie - is returning to 'EastEnders' for a guest stint as Bianca Jackson and described the brief reprisal as a "blessing" because it's so unusual for the soap.
She told RadioTimes.com: "The truth is they never usually ask people back for a short stint. So when they asked me, of course I said yes. 'EastEnders' is always a wonderful experience. To go back just for a few weeks was a blessing."
And the 47-year-old star had no problem getting back into character.
She said: "It's great fun being immature and getting back into her costumes. I noticed that Bianca's puffa jackets and fluorescent leggings seem to be back in fashion in London, which is a bit worrying. Everything always comes around again: that's a sign you're getting old."
While living in the US, Patsy has found other interests away from acting.
She said: "I moved for different reasons, mainly lifestyle, and ended up having a break [from acting] for a while. I've been DJing, which I love, and running a not-for-profit company. I host women's networking breakfasts to raise money for homeless women."
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