Kara Tointon

Kara Tointon
Tointon filming on the set of EastEnders in 2008
Born (1983-08-05) 5 August 1983
Basildon, Essex, England
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present
Television
Children2[1]
RelativesHannah Tointon (sister)

Kara Louise Tointon (born 5 August 1983) is an English actress, known for playing Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2015, she appeared as Maria in the ITV live production of The Sound of Music Live. She also played Erica Stoke in the eigth season of Lewis.

Early life and education

Kara Tointon was born on 5 August 1983 in Basildon, Essex, England, to parents Ken and Carol Tointon.[2] Together with her actress sister, Hannah (born 1987), Tointon was brought up in Leigh. Both sisters attended St Michael's School, Leigh, and St Hilda's School, Westcliff.[2]

As described by her father, Ken, in interview, "Kara started to go to speech and drama lessons [at age] seven", and was diagnosed with dyslexia at "about seven-and-a-half".[2] Soon after she began her related lessons, Tointon played Brigitta in a local amateur dramatic society's version of The Sound of Music at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff.[2] Tointon went on to "compete[ at] a high level in gymnastics and in national diving competitions".[2]

Career

Tointon's first paid role was as one of the child dancers, at age 11, for a Snow White pantomime at the Cliffs.[2] Thereafter, as her father describes it,

Someone mentioned Sylvia Young... We managed to get Kara on the agency’s books and she got steady and work. / She went on to do a series of kid’s shows, theatre roles, adverts and extra roles...[2]

Her first appearance on television was at about the same time, as a school friend of the character Sonia in EastEnders in 1994.[2]

After Tointon finished school in 2000, she began playing a role in the Channel 4 drama Teachers,[2] where she appeared in the first series in 2001, in the part of student Pauline Young. Other appearances in this period included in Dinotopia in 2002, and in Mile High in 2004.[2] She also starred in BBC's Curriculum Bites as a presenter in 2002.[3] Tointon joined the cast of Dream Team "until 2005.. and [a]lmost as soon as she left... it was announced she was to join EastEnders.[2] She joined that BBC soap cast as Dawn Swann,[3] a role she played for 4 years—until being written out, along with co-star Ricky Groves, in August 2009.[4]

In January 2010 she made a guest appearance in the 26th and final series of ITV's long-running police drama The Bill in "Duty Calls" as Ami Ryan.

In July 2010, she recorded a documentary for BBC Three called Kara Tointon: Don't Call Me Stupid.[5] The programme examined the impact dyslexia can have on people's lives and the difference different learning styles can have on dyslexic people.[5] Tointon revealed that she struggles as a dyslexic person, and had a reading age of 12.[5] During the programme, Tointon visited Shapwick School in Somerset, which specialises in the education of dyslexic pupils, and talked with the pupils about their experiences.[6]

Theatre

From May to September 2011, Tointon played Eliza Doolittle in the West End production of Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre, opposite Rupert Everett as Professor Higgins.[7] In spring 2012, Tointon played the role of Evelyn in Alan Ayckbourn's revival of the 1974 play Absent Friends, alongside Reece Shearsmith at the Harold Pinter Theatre, directed by Jeremy Herrin, which received critical acclaim.[8][9] Following this she played Giny in Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking, with Felicity Kendal, Jonathan Coy, and Max Bennett at the Wyndham's Theatre in 2013.[10]

In 2026, Tointon starred as Constance in Laura Wade's adaptation of The Constant Wife for a UK tour, prior to a planned West End residency.[11]

Selected stage credits

  • Pygmalion, Garrick Theatre, London, 2011
  • Absent Friends, Harold Pinter Theatre, London, 2012
  • Relatively Speaking, Wyndhams Theatre, London, 2013
  • Gaslight, Touring Production – various cities in England, 2017
  • Twelfth Night, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2017–18
  • The Man in the White Suit, Theatre Royal Bath and Wyndham's Theatre, London, 2019
  • The Constant Wife, Touring Production – various cities in England, 2026

Television

In 2015 and 2016, Tointon played Rosalie Selfridge in the television drama series Mr Selfridge, the semi-fictional story based on the life of Harry Selfridge. Tointon played the part of Maria in The Sound of Music Live in the UK, broadcast on 20 December.[12]

In January 2017, Tointon appeared in the ITV period drama The Halcyon, which was set in 1940 at a five-star hotel "at the centre of London Society and a world at war".[13] From November, Tointon played the role of Olivia in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night.[14]

In 2024 Tointon played Rachel in Captivated.

Film

On 22nd July 2025 it was announced that Kara will play Willamae Abernathy in Sunrise on the Reaping, the next movie adaptation in the Hunger Games trilogy, scheduled for release 20th November 2026.[15]

Strictly Come Dancing

Peppermint-coloured ballroom dress worn by Tointon in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing, which she won. Displayed at BBC Birmingham, it features "net underskirts, heavily stoned bodice and ribbon detailing".

Sport Relief Edition

In 2008, Tointon won the Sport Relief special edition of Strictly Come Dancing with Mark Ramprakash. Her samba was enough to get her the Glitterball Trophy.[16]

Series 8

In September 2010, Tointon was a contestant on series 8, partnered with Artem Chigvintsev.[17] The pair became champions on 18 December 2010.[16]

Scoring of series 8 by week
Week # Dance / Song Judges' scores Result;
Ref.
Horwood Goodman Dixon Tonioli Total
1 Cha-cha-cha / "I Like It" 7 8 8 7 30 No elimination
2 Foxtrot / "From Russia with Love" 7 8 8 8 31 Safe
3 Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" 8 8 8 7 31 Safe
4 Charleston / "Put a Lid on It" 8 8 8 8 32 Safe
5 Paso doble / "The Phantom of the Opera" 9 9 10 9 37 Safe
6 Salsa / "Conga" 9 9 10 9 37 Safe
7 Argentine tango / "Los Vino" 9 9 10 10 38 Safe
8 American Smooth / "Cry Me a River" 9 6 10 10 35 Safe
9 Jive / "Runaround Sue" 7 8 9 9 33 Safe
10 Tango / "El Tango de Roxanne" 9 9 10 10 38 Safe
11 Viennese waltz / "Stop!"
Rumba / "Samba Pa Ti"		 9
9		 10
10		 10
10		 10
10		 39
39		 Safe
12 Rumba / "Samba Pa Ti"
Freestyle / "Don't Stop Me Now"
Waltz / "If You Don't Know Me by Now"
American Smooth / "Cry Me a River"		 9
9
9
10		 10
9
9
8		 10
9
10
10		 10
9
10
10		 39
36
38
38		 Winner

Other work

In August 2009, she was unveiled as the new face of Michelle for George underwear at Asda.[18]

In February 2011, Tointon took part in the BT Red Nose Desert Trek for Comic Relief 2011.[19] Tointon also guest starred in an episode of Sky's “Bedlam” playing Leah (Kerry) Cole. In September, it was announced that Kara would play a lead role in the new film Last Passenger, opposite Dougray Scott and directed by Omid Nooshin.[20]

In 2018, Tointon joined 26 other celebrities at Metropolis Studios, to perform an original Christmas song called Rock With Rudolph, written and produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn. The song was released in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital and was released digitally on independent record label Saga Entertainment on 30 November 2018 under the artist name The Celebs. The music video debuted exclusively with The Sun on 29 November 2018 and had its first TV showing on Good Morning Britain on 30 November 2018. The song peaked at number two on the iTunes pop chart.[21][22][23]

Personal life

Family

In November 2018, Tointon gave birth to her first child, a boy, with her then-fiancé Marius Jensen.[24] She had a second son with Marius Jensen in 2021.[25]

Relationships

In 2004, Tointon dated Busted band member James Bourne. Their relationship was depicted in the TV series America or Busted but ended in January 2005, shortly after the band split up.[26]

Tointon was in a relationship with EastEnders co-star James Alexandrou which began in April 2006. The relationship reportedly ended in November 2007.[27]

Tointon was in a relationship with her EastEnders co-star Joe Swash from 2008 to 2010.[28]

Health

In May 2025, Tointon announced that she had undergone a double mastectomy and a bilateral salpingectomy,[1] after testing positive to being a carrier of the BRCA mutation BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.[29] In a post on social media site Instagram, she stated, "There is a history of both cancers in my family on my mother's side, but for various reasons, including generational trauma of which I'll talk more about another time, we hadn't looked into it until that point. But it was put to us, we took the test, and it was confirmed that my mum and I both carried the gene." Tointon's mother died from ovarian cancer in 2018.[30][31]

Charity

In September 2014, Tointon took part in the Great North Run to raise money for Share A Star, a charity set up to help severely unwell children and teenagers.[32]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes, Refs.
2002 Never Play with the Dead Victoria
2004 The Football Factory Tameka
The Fete Lizzie Short film.
2006 Just My Luck Concert Goer (uncredited)
2012 The Sweeney Megan Barret
2013 Last Passenger Sarah Barwell
2016 Let's Be Evil Tiggs
2017 Gaslight Bella Manningham
2018 RSC Live: Twelfth Night Olivia
2022 The Gallery Jamie
2026 The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Willamae Abernathy Post-Production.
TBA Kill Roo Pre-production.
TBA Spike Jennifer Pre-Production.

Television

Year Title Role Notes, Refs.
1998 Jonathan Creek Young girl Series 2; Episode 3 "The Scented Room"
1999–2000, 2004–2005 Dream Team Gina Moliano Series 3; Episodes 27 & 28, and Series 8; 21 episodes
2001 Teachers Pauline Young Series 1; Episodes 1–8
2002 Dinotopia 18-year-old Le Sage Episode 3: "Handful of Dust"
2002–2003 Harry and Cosh Gaby Series 4; Episodes 1–14
2003 Boudica Poppaea Television film
2004 Keen Eddie Sarah Friedman Episode 11: "Who Wants to Be in a Club That Would Have Me as a Member?"
Mile High Geneva Series 2; Episode 18
America or Busted Herself (voice) Episode 6: "U.S. Album Release"
2005–2009 EastEnders Dawn Swann 345 episodes
2010 The Bill Ami Ryan Series 26; Episode 3: "Duty Calls"
Strictly Come Dancing Herself - Contestant Series 8; Episodes 1–27 (Winner)
Kara Tointon: Don't Call Me Stupid Herself Television documentary
2011 Bedlam Leah Cole Series 1; Episode 2: "Driven"
Ideal Herself Series 7; Episode 1: "The Police"
2014 Lewis Erica Stoke Series 8; Episodes 1 & 2: "Entry Wounds: Parts 1 & 2"
Celebrity Chase Herself - Contestant Series 4; Episode 7
2015 SunTrap Maria Episode 2: "In the Line of Fire"
The Sound of Music Live Maria Rainer Television Special (UK version of The Sound of Music Live!)
2015–2016 Mr Selfridge Rosalie Selfridge/De Bolotoff Series 3 & 4; 20 episodes
2017 The Halcyon Betsey Day Episodes 1–8
Henry IX Serena Episodes 1–3: "Reigned In", "Exit Strategy" and "Clearing the Air"
2018 Great Performances Maria Series 46; Episode 4: "The Sound of Music"
The Keith & Paddy Picture Show Kate Beringer Series 2; Episode 6: "Christmas Special: Gremlins"
2019 The Crystal Maze Herself - Adventurer Series 9; Episode 5: "Celebrities"
2020 Urban Myths Kitty Clive Series 4; Episode 3: "Hendrix & Handel"
2023 Father Brown Elizabeth Barnes Series 10; Episode 6: "The Royal Visit"
Archie Young Elsie Leach Mini-series; Episodes 1–4
2024 Too Good to Be True

known outside the UK as Captivated

 Rachel Connor Lead role. Mini-series; Episodes 1–4
The Teacher Dani Oxley Lead role. Mini-series; Episodes 1–4

Music videos

Year Title Role Notes, Refs.
2018 Rock with Rudolph Herself Band: The Celebs.[23]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2006 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [33]
Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female Won [33]
2007 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [34]
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [35]
Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [35]
Inside Soap Awards Best Dressed Soap Star Won [36]
13th National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Nominated [37]
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [38]
Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female Won [39]
2009 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [40]
Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [41]
Inside Soap Awards Best Dressed Soap Star Won [42]

References

  1. 1 2 Sarrubba, Stefania (29 May 2025). "EastEnders and Strictly star reveals double mastectomy after health discovery". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Mackenzie, Louise (11 October 2010). "Dad's Pride in His Two TV Star Daughters". The Echo (Echo-News.co.uk). Bournemouth, England: Newsquest Media Group. Dad Ken, now a semi-retired accountant, and mum Carol, brought the children up in Leigh. The girls both went to St Michael's in Leigh and St Hilda's in Westcliff... .
  3. 1 2 "Strictly Come Dancing 2010 – Celebrities – Kara Tointon". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ↑ ""Tointon, Groves to be written out of 'Enders", March 26, 2009". Digitalspy.co.uk. 26 March 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 "EastEnders' Kara Tointon: I have reading age of a 12-year-old". 28 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "TV star Kara Tointon films documentary at Shapwick School". Bridgwater Mercury. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Kara Tointon: 'It's fun doing the poor girl done good role'". theguardian.com. 8 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "Absent Friends – review Harold Pinter theatre, London". theguardian.com. 19 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Benedict, David (14 February 2012). "Absent Friends". Variety. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Relatively Speaking – review Wyndham's, London". theguardian.com. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  11. ↑ Dillon, Luke (29 September 2025). "The Constant Wife to tour the UK starring Kara Tointon, prior to the West End". West End Theatre. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Allfree, Claire (21 December 2015). "The Sound of Music Live, review: 'much to enjoy'". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Meet the cast of The Halcyon". RadioTimes. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Casting announced for RSC's Twelfth Night | WhatsOnStage". 30 June 2017.
  15. ↑ Sinha, Sudipta (16 April 2026). "This EastEnders star just popped up in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer". Primetimer. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Kara Tointon – Winner of series eight in 2010". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Kara Tointon to star in Strictly Come Dancing". Tv.sky.com. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Kara Tointon's Strictly Lingerie". famemagazine.co.uk. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "Kara Tointon – Red Nose Day 2011". Comic Relief. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "Last Passenger". timeout.com. 15 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "TV stars sing for Great Ormond Street Christmas charity single". 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "Shona McGarty proud of charity song".
  23. 1 2 "The Celebs – Rock With Rudolph". YouTube. TheCelebsVEVO. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 December 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  24. ↑ "Kara Tointon 'exhausted' as she shares breastfeeding pic with newborn son". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  25. ↑ Sarrubba, Stefania (28 May 2025). "EastEnders and Strictly star reveals double mastectomy after health discovery". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "James of Busted dumped by girlfriend". Digital Spy. 18 January 2005. Retrieved 19 January 2005.
  27. ↑ "'EastEnders' lovebirds decide to split". Digital Spy. 4 November 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
  28. ↑ "Eastender Kara Tointon dumps Joe Swash". Mirror. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  29. ↑ Evans, Greg (29 May 2025). "Kara Tointon praised for undergoing double mastectomy after discovering she carries cancer gene". Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  30. ↑ Dexter, Aimee (28 May 2025). "Kara Tointon has double mastectomy after gene test". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  31. ↑ "Strictly winner Kara Tointon has double mastectomy after cancer gene test". Daily Telegraph. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  32. ↑ "Kara Tointon for Share A Star at the Great North Run". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  33. 1 2 "British Television Soap Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  34. ↑ "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  35. 1 2 Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  36. ↑ Green, Kris (24 September 2007). "Corrie takes top gong at Inside Soap Awards". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  37. ↑ "In full: National TV Awards 2007 winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  38. ↑ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  39. ↑ Green, Kris (29 September 2008). "'Enders cleans up at Inside Soap Awards". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  40. ↑ Green, Kris; KilKelly, Daniel (10 May 2009). "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  41. ↑ "Inside soap awards nominations". 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  42. ↑ Green, Kris (28 September 2009). "'EastEnders' tops Inside Soap Awards 2009". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
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