# Jaime Winstone
**Jaime Winstone** (full name Jaime Margaret Winstone; born 1985) is an English actress and producer, the daughter of actor [Ray Winstone](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-winstone), known for roles in *Bullet Boy*, *Kidulthood*, *Made in Dagenham*, *Dead Set*, and her acclaimed portrayal of [Barbara Windsor](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbara-windsor) in the BBC biopic *Babs*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) • [2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) • [3](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10555) In 2026 she competed as a celebrity contestant on *Strictly Come Dancing*.[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985, Camden, London, England; daughter of actors Ray and Elaine Winstone[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) |
| Screen debut | *Bullet Boy* (2004), playing Natalie in Saul Dibb's award-winning film[2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) |
| Breakthrough | Becky in *Kidulthood* (2006), which took £1.2m in its opening weekend[2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) |
| Signature role | Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic *Babs* (2017); later played Windsor's Peggy Mitchell in *EastEnders* flashback episodes, 2022–2025[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) |
| Stage work | Jenny in the West End production of *2:22 A Ghost Story* (2023)[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jaime-Winstone/) |
| *Strictly* 2026 | Eighth celebrity announced, on 23 July 2026; paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [6](https://celebrity.land/en/article/jaime-winstone-attends-primark-event-ahead-of-strictly-come-dancing/) |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) |
## Early life and family
Winstone was born in Camden, London, in 1985, and grew up on a north London estate in Enfield with her parents, Ray and Elaine Winstone, her elder sister Lois, and her younger sister Ellie.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-winstones-bring-your-daughter-to-the-slaughter-2244939.html) In her early teens the family moved to Roydon in Essex.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/jan/23/jaime-winstone-russell-tovey) Her father drew her into film work early: as a young woman she shadowed him on sets in Los Angeles, working as a camera assistant and runner on productions including *The Departed* (2006) and *Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull* (2008).[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html) Watching Cate Blanchett at work on *The Departed* became a formative experience she credits with instilling early confidence.[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html)
## Film and television career
**Breakthrough roles.** Winstone's screen career began in 2004 with *Bullet Boy*, Saul Dibb's award-winning film in which she played Natalie.[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) Her breakthrough came in 2006 as Becky in Menhaj Huda's *Kidulthood*, a day-in-the-life drama about teenagers in west London; the film took £1.2m in its opening weekend and became the British box-office success of that year.[2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) She followed it with the lead role of Kim in the thriller *Donkey Punch* (2008) and the lead as Kelly in [Charlie Brooker](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-brooker)'s Channel 4 zombie horror series *Dead Set*, which aired on E4 in October 2008.[2](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf) • [3](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10555)
**Established career.** In 2010 she played Sandra in *Made in Dagenham*, a film about the Ford sewing machinists' strike, acting alongside [Sally Hawkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/sally-hawkins), Andrea Riseborough, and [Bob Hoskins](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-hoskins); she has said she learned improvisation working with that cast.[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html) [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) credits include *Five Daughters* (as Anneli Alderton), *Mad Dogs* (as Mercedes), *Torvill & Dean*, *Poirot*, *Count Abdulla*, and the BBC drama *Four Lives*, in which she played Donna Taylor.[3](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10555) • [4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) Film work in later years included *Love, Rosie* (2014), *Tomb Raider* (2018), *Knuckledust* (2020), and *Sumotherhood* (2023).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/)
**Barbara Windsor.** Winstone received widespread acclaim for playing the young Barbara Windsor in the 2017 BBC biopic *Babs*; *The Guardian* described her performance as "delicious…sweet and self-knowing…with a perfect Babs laugh".[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html) She had met Windsor once as a child, and says Windsor told her, "Oh, you should play me one day!"[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html) She then took over Windsor's most famous role, appearing as young [Peggy Mitchell](https://www.edgepedia.org/peggy-mitchell) in *EastEnders* flashback specials from 2022, returning for the soap's 40th anniversary in 2025; that episode won the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode.[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html)
## Stage and other work
Winstone played Jenny as a replacement cast member in the West End production of *2:22 A Ghost Story* in 2023, appearing alongside Clifford Samuel, Ricky Champ, and later [Frankie Bridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankie-bridge).[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jaime-Winstone/) She has also worked as a model, walked for [Vivienne Westwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/vivienne-westwood), appeared in music videos for [The Streets](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-streets) and Madness, and narrated the BBC Three series *Britain's Youngest Football Boss*.[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) • [10](https://www.philipglenisterfans.org.uk/uploads/1/4/2/3/14236600/mad_dogs_3_press_pack_-_final.pdf) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/) She works as a producer as well; her credits include *Elfie Hopkins: Cannibal Hunter* (2012), in which she also played the title role, and the short *Ray the Rug* (2024).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/)
## Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Winstone was announced on 23 July 2026 as the eighth celebrity in the line-up for *Strictly Come Dancing* 2026, joining [Lacey Turner](https://www.edgepedia.org/lacey-turner), Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, and Dame Sarah Storey.[4](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/) She said she had been asked before but had always been busy working or raising her son, and that turning 40 made her "lean into this moment"; she also credited a compliment on her dancing from [Taylor Swift](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-swift) at a friend's birthday party as a deciding sign.[11](https://mediamole.co.uk/tv/jaime-winstone-inspired-to-take-part-in-strictly-come-dancing-after-taylor-swift-chat/35097/) She was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, and the series began on 19 September 2026 on [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) and iPlayer.[6](https://celebrity.land/en/article/jaime-winstone-attends-primark-event-ahead-of-strictly-come-dancing/) • [11](https://mediamole.co.uk/tv/jaime-winstone-inspired-to-take-part-in-strictly-come-dancing-after-taylor-swift-chat/35097/)
The training schedule is demanding: she and Gu rehearse from 9am to 5pm daily, and she paused her usual strength training to avoid injury during the competition.[12](https://www.newsminimalist.com/articles/jaime-winstones-home-strength-routine-at-41-im-not-a-gym-person-f265b5d6) In October 2026 the pair landed in the series' first dance-off after low public votes following Movie Night, but the judges' scores saved them, and [Chris Appleton](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-appleton) and [Amy Dowden](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-dowden) were eliminated instead.[13](https://celebrity.land/en/article/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone-and-partner-avoid-elimination/)
## Personal life and industry advocacy
Winstone dated actor Alfie Allen on and off for around seven years, and has been with DJ James Suckling since 2015; they have a son, Raymond, born around 2016.[14](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/12/17/news/jaime-winstone-i-m-watching-my-behaviour-now-that-i-m-a-mum-1508795/) In her twenties she was a fixture of the London nightlife scene around Soho, and was widely branded a "party girl", a label she has pushed back on, saying she always worked and "earned my right to dance".[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html)
Following the #MeToo movement she helped implement intimacy coordinators on set, saying she is proud to have been part of a group of women who helped change industry practice.[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html) She is writing a semi-autobiographical film about a girl navigating a man's world in the 1990s, which she hopes to direct, and is set to star in *Sessions*, a film about substance abuse.[9](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html)
## References
1. [Jaime Winstone, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785575/)
2. [Made in Dagenham press kit, Sony Pictures Classics](https://www.sonyclassics.com/madeindagenham/madeindagenham_presskit.pdf)
3. [Jaime Winstone, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10555)
4. [Actress Jaime Winstone is the eighth celebrity announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, BBC Media Centre](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone/)
5. [Jaime Winstone, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jaime-Winstone/)
6. [Jaime Winstone Attends Primark Event Ahead of Strictly Come Dancing Debut, Celebrity Land](https://celebrity.land/en/article/jaime-winstone-attends-primark-event-ahead-of-strictly-come-dancing/)
7. [The Winstones: Bring your daughter to the slaughter, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-winstones-bring-your-daughter-to-the-slaughter-2244939.html)
8. [Jaime Winstone and Russell Tovey: the start of something beautiful, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/jan/23/jaime-winstone-russell-tovey)
9. [Jaime Winstone says she's entering her prime as star's Strictly journey continues, The Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jaime-winstone-strictly-come-dancing-b1301057.html)
10. [Mad Dogs series 3 press pack](https://www.philipglenisterfans.org.uk/uploads/1/4/2/3/14236600/mad_dogs_3_press_pack_-_final.pdf)
11. [Jaime Winstone inspired to take part in Strictly Come Dancing after Taylor Swift chat, Media Mole](https://mediamole.co.uk/tv/jaime-winstone-inspired-to-take-part-in-strictly-come-dancing-after-taylor-swift-chat/35097/)
12. [Jaime Winstone's home strength routine at 41, Women's Health via News Minimalist](https://www.newsminimalist.com/articles/jaime-winstones-home-strength-routine-at-41-im-not-a-gym-person-f265b5d6)
13. [Strictly Come Dancing: Jaime Winstone and Partner Avoid Elimination, Celebrity Land](https://celebrity.land/en/article/strictly-come-dancing-jaime-winstone-and-partner-avoid-elimination/)
14. [Jaime Winstone: I'm watching my behaviour now that I'm a mum, The Irish News](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/12/17/news/jaime-winstone-i-m-watching-my-behaviour-now-that-i-m-a-mum-1508795/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Wh to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license