Letitia Dean, known for her iconic role as Sharon Watts on EastEnders, was once married to Holby City star Jason Pethers. The couple tied the knot in 2002 but separated in 2007, with the marriage reportedly ending due to disagreements over starting a family.
Letitia Dean's Early Life and Career
Born in Hertfordshire, Dean trained at the Sylvia Mitchell School of Dance and later at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. She began her professional career in her early teens, appearing in shows like Brookside and Grange Hill before landing the role of Sharon Watts in EastEnders in 1985.
Dean played Sharon from 1985 to 1995 and again from 2001 to 2006, returning in 2012. In a 2020 interview on the spin-off show Secrets from the Square, Dean admitted she lied about being a Cockney to secure the role, claiming she was born within the sound of Bow bells.
Marriage to Jason Pethers
In 2001, Dean became engaged to Jason Pethers, best known for playing Rob Greening on Holby City. They married in 2002 at All Saints' Church in Marylebone, with EastEnders co-star Susan Tully serving as bridesmaid. The marriage ended in 2007, reportedly due to differing desires about having children.
Speaking about the separation, Dean told the Mirror: "I do not regret one minute of my time with Jay. I was in love - desperately in love - and I can't reiterate enough how thankful I am that I did get married to that man." She added: "Unfortunately, many of us fork off in different directions."
Life After Divorce
Since the divorce, Dean has kept her private life out of the spotlight and has not publicly dated anyone. Pethers' mother, Joan, told the Daily Mirror at the time: "They both wanted children, but Jason wanted to wait until he could afford it. She had a lot more money than him."
Dean continues to portray Sharon Watts on EastEnders, which airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
