Julie Perkins

Name: Julie Perkins
First Appeared: 14th October 2010
Last Appeared: 5th August 2011
Played by: Cathy Murphy

Julie Perkins, the no-nonsense, straight-talking geezer-bird, made quite the splash when she rocked up in Walford. A childhood friend of Billy Mitchell, Julie had a tough exterior but a heart of gold. Her backstory was a rollercoaster, having been separated from Billy and their son, Dan Pearce, who was taken away shortly after birth. Years later, they discovered Dan had tragically died at 35, but not before leaving behind a granddaughter, Lola Pearce.

Julie’s arrival in Walford was anything but quiet. She turned up just as Billy was dealing with the fallout of a police visit, revealing that she had been pregnant by Henry Mason, a paedophile from their care home days. Despite the heavy baggage, Julie and Billy rekindled their old flame, leading to some classic EastEnders drama. Julie’s knack for “liberating” other people’s property got her into hot water more than once, like when she swiped Stacey Branning’s stilettos at Ronnie Mitchell’s wedding. And who could forget the time she was accused of nicking £20,000, only for it to turn out she’d just filled her bag with food from the buffet?

Life with Julie was never dull. She wore an electronic tag, stayed in a hostel, and even managed to get sacked by Kat Moon after accidentally disconnecting the beer pumps at The Queen Vic. But beneath all the chaos, Julie was trying to make a home for herself and reconnect with Billy. Their relationship hit a high note when they discovered they had a granddaughter, Lola. However, Julie and Lola’s relationship was rocky, with both vying for Billy’s affection. Julie’s attempt to have Lola taken back into care was a low point, but she eventually allowed Lola to move in, leading to more domestic drama.

Julie’s time in Walford was marked by her fierce loyalty and vulnerability. She took the blame when Lola accidentally injured Jay in the Arches, showing her protective side. But the constant tension with Lola took its toll. Realising that she and Lola couldn’t coexist, Julie made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Walford, saying an emotional goodbye to Billy.