Charlie Brooks was born Charlene Brooks on May 3, 1981, in Hertfordshire, England, and grew up in Barmouth, Wales. She had always dreamed of becoming an actress, and at the age of 13, she traveled to London without her parents to pursue her goal.
Charlie's early career consisted of small roles in various TV shows, but she eventually landed the coveted role of Janine Butcher in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1999, at the age of 18. She became a household name for her portrayal of the character and won several awards, including Villain of the Year in 2004.
After leaving EastEnders in 2004, Charlie took a break from acting to focus on her personal life. She had a daughter, Kiki Truman, with her partner Tony Truman in 2004 and later ended their engagement in 2006.
Charlie returned to acting in 2005, starring in the BBC miniseries Bleak House and releasing a workout DVD titled Charlie Brooks: Before and After Workout. She received critical acclaim for her role in the docu-drama Angel of Death: The Beverly Allitt Story and made her film debut with the independent film Take 3 Girls in 2006.
In 2007, Charlie renewed her stage career with the production of "Our Country's Good" at the Liverpool Playhouse. She currently resides in Thames Ditton with her daughter Kiki and continues to work in the entertainment industry.
