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Sunday, 10 August 2008

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Patsy Kensit: My dad was a gangster

Actress reveals her family's criminal roots

Patsy Kensit looked into her family history for BBC1 show Who Do You Think You Are?

Patsy Kensit has revealed that she was distraught after discovering the truth about her father's criminal past.

The Holby City actress was filming Who Do You Think You Are? when she was told her dad James was a gangster known as Jimmy The Dip.

Patsy, 40, says she was so traumatised she started comfort eating to ease the pain.

‘I was stuffing down double portions of pie, then going home and eating burgers and fries,’ she says. ‘I stopped washing my hair – I was a complete wreck.

‘I was poleaxed by grief and anger. I couldn’t function.’

Her father was linked to the Kray twins – Reggie was even godfather to her brother James.

‘I adored my father,' she says.  'He was charismatic, charming and exciting to be around.

'In my subsequent relationships with men, I've always looked for the unconditional love he gave me.'

The new series of Who Do You Think You Are? starts on BBC1 on 13 August.