Patsy Kensit on Being a Child Star, 90’s Icon & Living With Grief

Patsy Kensit on Being a Child Star, 90’s Icon & Living With Grief

From Begin Again with Davina McCall by Begin Again

August 27, 2026 · 1h 21m

About this episode

Patsy Kensit discusses her experiences as a child star, the impact of trauma and grief on her life, and her journey towards healing and motherhood.

What happens when the life everyone sees as extraordinary has been shaped by trauma, loss and the constant need to survive? In this episode of Begin Again, Patsy Kensit joins Davina for an emotional and deeply personal conversation about childhood fame, love, grief, PTSD, motherhood, addiction, losing everything and finding the strength to start again. Patsy looks back on an extraordinary life in the spotlight: beginning her career at just four years old in The Great Gatsby, becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable young stars, working alongside Hollywood icons and finding herself at the centre of 80s and 90s pop culture. She shares unforgettable stories from Lethal Weapon 2, meeting David Bowie and the surreal experiences that came with growing up famous. But behind the success was a childhood filled with fear. Patsy opens up about being told at six years old that her mother could die, growing up with a father who was repeatedly in prison, and the secrets she carried to protect her family. She reveals how a PTSD diagnosis decades later finally helped her understand the sadness, depression and fear she had lived with for most of her life. She also reflects honestly on love and…

People in this episode

Host: Davina McCall

Guest: Patsy Kensit

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Great Gatsby, Lethal Weapon 2

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