Sharon Watts – Complete Character Profile and 2025 Update

Sharon Watts is one of the most recognisable faces in British television. As an original character on EastEnders, she has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most dramatic moments since the very first episode aired on 19 February 1985. From her early days as the teenage daughter of Den and Angie Watts to her complex adult life marked by multiple marriages, profound loss, and a recent prison sentence, her story is a cornerstone of Walford’s history.

Played consistently by actress Letitia Dean, Sharon has appeared in over 2,700 episodes. Her journey from the Queen Vic to the witness stand and back again has made her a character viewers love to follow. This profile covers her age, her family, her many husbands, and what she is doing in 2025.

Who is the actress behind Sharon Watts?

The character of Sharon Watts has been portrayed by a single actress since the show began. Letitia Dean originated the role in 1985 and has remained closely associated with it ever since, returning after several breaks to continue the story.

Full Name
Sharon Ann Watts (née Stretton, also Mitchell, Rickman, Beale)

Played by
Letitia Dean

First Appearance
19 February 1985 (Episode 1)

Current Status
Regular character (2025)

Sharon Watts is one of EastEnders‘ original characters, appearing in the very first episode in 1985.
She has been played continuously by Letitia Dean since her return in 2001, with brief gaps.
Known for her numerous marriages and complex relationships, including Phil Mitchell and Ian Beale.
Her most famous storyline includes the iconic ‘Sharongate’ scandal and her long-running rivalry with Janine Butcher.
Letitia Dean was born on 14 November 1967, making her 57 years old as of 2025.
The Fandom appearances page attributes 2,729 episodes to her as Sharon Watts across the character’s runs.

Fact	Detail
Character age (as of 2025)	Approximately 57 (born ~1968)
Number of marriages	5 (including Grant Mitchell, Phil Mitchell, Jack Branning, etc.)
Children	Dennis Rickman Jr., Albie Watts (adoptive)
Notable aliases	Sharon Mitchell, Sharon Rickman, Sharon Beale
Actor age (Letitia Dean)	57 (born 14 November 1967)

How old is Sharon Watts and when did she first appear?

Sharon Watts made her debut on the very first episode of EastEnders, which aired on 19 February 1985. She was introduced as the teenage daughter of Den and Angie Watts, living above the Queen Victoria pub. Her early stories focused on teenage romance, particularly her crush on Kelvin Carpenter, and her close friendship with Michelle Fowler.

Sharon Watts young

In her younger years, Sharon was a central figure in the show’s early family dynamics. She later discovered Den’s signet ring and became involved in the search that eventually led to the discovery of Den’s body in 1990. After Den’s death was confirmed, she sought out her biological mother, Carol Hanley, and learned the truth about her parentage.

Sharon Watts age

The character’s exact birth date is not explicitly stated in the show’s canon, but she is estimated to have been born around 1968, making her approximately 57 years old in 2025. Letitia Dean, the actress who plays her, was born on 14 November 1967 and is also 57.

Character Origin

Sharon Watts is one of the few remaining original characters from the soap’s launch in 1985. She is the adopted daughter of Den Watts and Angie Watts, though she later learns that her biological father is Gavin Sullivan and her biological mother is Carol Hanley.

Who is Sharon Watts married to and does she have children?

Sharon’s relationship history is a major part of her character arc and includes several marriages and long-running affairs. Her story is strongly defined by family revelations, major marriages, affairs and betrayals, motherhood and loss, and ongoing ties to the Mitchell and Watts families.

Sharon Watts husband

Sharon has been married multiple times. Her most famous marriage was to Grant Mitchell, which led to the iconic “Sharongate” storyline in 1994, when she had an affair with his brother Phil Mitchell while married to Grant. She later married Phil Mitchell in 2014 after a long on-and-off relationship. She was also married to Dennis Rickman, the father of her son Denny, and briefly to Ian Beale, whose surname appears among her aliases.