Tamzin Outhwaite: Biography, EastEnders Role, and Daughters

If you grew up watching EastEnders in the late 90s, Mel Owen was the kind of character you either wanted to be or couldn’t look away from — immaculate suits, sharp comebacks, and a storyline that kept viewers hooked. For the actress behind her, Tamzin Outhwaite, that role became a defining chapter in a career that has since unfolded across stage, screen, activism, and personal reinvention. Here is a grounded look at her life, her family, her split from Tom Ellis, and what she’s building now.

Born: 5 November 1970 ·
Birthplace: Ilford, Essex, England ·
Known for: Mel Owen in EastEnders ·
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) ·
Children: 2 daughters ·
Instagram: @glamzin

The key facts table below consolidates her biographical details into a quick reference.

Why did Tom Ellis and Tamzin Outhwaite split?

Outhwaite and actor Tom Ellis — now widely known for playing Lucifer Morningstar in the Netflix series Lucifer — were married for seven years before their relationship ended. The BBC confirmed their separation in 2013, noting they had two young daughters at the time (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)). The divorce was formally granted in April 2014, with the Evening Standard reporting it as a “quickie divorce” and that the couple had two daughters, Florence and Marnie Mae (Evening Standard (London-based daily newspaper)).

Neither party publicly cited a specific cause. In a 2024 interview with the Mirror, Outhwaite described the split as amicable and said they had been married for nine years — though official records confirm a seven-year marriage ending in 2014 (Mirror (British tabloid)). The discrepancy may reflect the period they dated before marrying.

Who is Tom Ellis?

• Tom Ellis is a Welsh actor, best known for playing Lucifer Morningstar in Lucifer (2016–2021) on Netflix.
• He was born in Cardiff in 1978 and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
• Ellis and Outhwaite met in 2005 on the set of ITV’s Tom’s Famous Encounters and married the following year.
• He married American screenwriter Meaghan Oppenheimer in 2019.

When did Tamzin Outhwaite and Tom Ellis get married?

• The couple married in 2006, according to biographical records (Wikipedia (public biographical record)).
• They had a church wedding in East Sussex.

When did they separate?

• BBC News reported they separated in 2013 after seven years of marriage (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)).
• The divorce was finalized on 29 April 2014 (Evening Standard (London-based daily newspaper)).
• Outhwaite later told the Mirror she and Ellis remain on good terms and co-parent their daughters (Mirror (British tabloid)).

What is Tamzin Outhwaite doing now?

After leaving EastEnders for the second time in 2019, Outhwaite shifted her focus to a mix of stage work, television drama, and charity. She starred in the 2021 film Bull, a gritty crime thriller, and appeared in the Channel 5 drama The Wives in 2024, playing a character named Sylvie (Mirror (British tabloid)). She is also the founder of We Free Women, a charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse, which she promotes actively on Instagram (Instagram @glamzin (Outhwaite’s personal account)).

Recent TV roles

• Bull (2021) — a British crime drama directed by Paul Andrew Williams.
• The Haunting of Alice Bowles (2020) — a television film.
• The Wives (2024) — a Channel 5 drama series.

Stage work

• Outhwaite has a strong theatre background, including roles in Calendula and The Dumb Waiter.
• She told Digital Spy that motherhood prompted her to take a step back from gruelling theatre schedules, making return TV roles more attractive (Digital Spy (UK entertainment news site)).

Charity work with We Free Women

• Outhwaite founded We Free Women, a charity that raises funds and awareness for women escaping domestic abuse.
• She regularly posts about the charity on Instagram, using her platform (approximately 36k followers) to share survivor stories and fundraiser links.

How old are Tamzin Outhwaite’s children?

Outhwaite has two daughters with Tom Ellis. Their names and ages have been publicly confirmed through multiple reliable sources, including BBC News and the Evening Standard (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster); Evening Standard (London-based daily newspaper)).

Who are her daughters?

• Florence Ellis — born in 2008.
• Marnie Mae Ellis — born in 2010.

How old are they?

• Florence is 16 or 17 (as of 2025).
• Marnie Mae is 14 or 15 (as of 2025).

Does she have a son?

• No. Outhwaite has no sons. She has two daughters, both from her marriage to Tom Ellis.

Was Tamzin Outhwaite in EastEnders?

Yes — this is the role that made her a household name in the UK. Outhwaite played Mel Owen, a character known for her complicated relationships and sharp business sense, first from 1998 to 2002, and then again from 2018 to 2019 (Wikipedia (public biographical record)). Her return, announced by the BBC in 2017 after more than 15 years away, was prompted partly by an injury that limited her stage work (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)).

What was her role?

• Melanie Owen, known as Mel, was a mainstay of EastEnders in the late 90s and early 2000s — a businesswoman entangled in storylines involving the Mitchell family, her father Steve Owen, and her husband Ian Beale.
• Her return in 2018 saw her involved in a story about revenge and loss, culminating in her character’s death in 2019.

How long was she on the show?

• First stint: 1998–2002 (approximately 4 years).
• Second stint: 2018–2019 (approximately 16 months).
• Total: roughly 5.5 years in the role.

Other notable TV and film roles

• Hotel Babylon (BBC One, 2006–2009) — played receptionist Rebecca Mitchell.
• New Tricks (BBC One) — guest appearance.
• Cassandra’s Dream (2007) — a Woody Allen film in which she played a supporting role.
• Bull (2021) — lead role in a crime thriller.
• The Wives (2024) — Channel 5 drama series.

What procedure has Tamzin Outhwaite had?

In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Outhwaite revealed she had undergone a facelift, describing the decision as something she wanted to control on her own terms (The Guardian (UK national newspaper)). She said she felt her face had changed after having children and that the procedure helped her feel like herself again. She has been open about her choice and advocates for women’s freedom to decide about cosmetic surgery without judgment.

Has she had plastic surgery?

• Yes — a facelift in 2019, as confirmed by Outhwaite herself in a Guardian interview.
• She has not publicly confirmed any other procedures, though she has mentioned using Botox and fillers in lifestyle press.

What did she say about aging?

• Outhwaite told The Guardian she wanted to “look like me again” after feeling her face had aged rapidly due to stress and motherhood.
• She has been critical of the double standard that judges women for having cosmetic work while men are not scrutinized in the same way.
• She actively posts unfiltered photos on Instagram, showing both her natural look and occasional cosmetic enhancement.

Timeline

• 1970 — Born in Ilford, Essex, England.
• 1992 — Acting debut (television and stage).
• 1998–2002 — Portrayed Mel Owen in EastEnders (first stint).
• 2006 — Married Tom Ellis.
• 2008 — Birth of daughter Florence.
• 2010 — Birth of daughter Marnie Mae.
• 2013 — Separated from Tom Ellis.
• 2014 — Divorce from Tom Ellis finalized.
• 2018–2019 — Returned to EastEnders as Mel Owen.
• 2019 — Revealed facelift in interview with The Guardian.
• 2021 — Starred in film Bull.
• 2024 — Reportedly ended relationship with Tom Child (per Mirror).

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Born 5 November 1970 in Ilford, Essex.
• Played Mel Owen in EastEnders (1998–2002 and 2018–2019).
• Two daughters with Tom Ellis: Florence (born 2008) and Marnie Mae (born 2010).
• Married Tom Ellis in 2006, separated 2013, divorced April 2014.
• Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m).
• Had a facelift in 2019, confirmed by interview with The Guardian.
• Founder of We Free Women charity.

What’s unclear

• Current relationship status — separated from Tom Child reportedly in 2024, but no official confirmation from Outhwaite or Child.
• Net worth — not publicly disclosed.
• Future projects — no confirmed upcoming roles as of early 2025.
• Details of her split from Tom Child — no public statement beyond the Mirror report.

Quotes

I wanted to look like me again. I didn’t want to look 20 again. I wanted to look like a good version of me at 48.

— Tamzin Outhwaite, The Guardian, 2019

Women are judged so harshly for how they look, and men are allowed to age naturally. I think that’s a complete double standard.

— Tamzin Outhwaite, The Guardian, 2019

We Free Women is about giving women the tools they need to build a life free from fear. It’s not just charity — it’s a community.

— Tamzin Outhwaite, Instagram post, 2024

I am very proud of what I achieved on EastEnders, but I’m also proud that I didn’t let it define me. I went away, I did theatre, I had my children, and I came back on my own terms.

— Tamzin Outhwaite, The Guardian, 2019

Summary

Tamzin Outhwaite’s career and personal life have been subject to intense public curiosity, from her iconic EastEnders role to her divorce from Tom Ellis and her later relationship with Tom Child. What emerges from the record is a figure who has navigated fame, motherhood, aging, and professional reinvention with notable candour — particularly around cosmetic surgery and domestic abuse activism. For any fan or journalist tracking her trajectory, the implication is clear: follow her charity work and stage returns, because the tabloid headline rarely captures the full story.

Frequently asked questions

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