With his youthful complexion and shock of tousled hair he looks worlds away from the follically challenged hard-man responsible for turning him into a household name.
Ross Kemp will reprise his iconic role as EastEnders legend Grant Mitchell for the first time in nine years when the character returns to Walford for the show’s 40th anniversary in February.
Famed for is bald head and no-nonsense attitude, Grant was involved in some of the show’s biggest storylines before leaving in 1999 for a new life overseas.
He has since made a series of brief returns, with his last coming in 2016.
But EastEnders fans were stunned after Kemp, 59, shared a decades old photo of himself during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
The shots from his younger years were taken when he was a young adult, first playing rugby with short hair, and also sporting a short back and sides shortly after leaving drama school.
Ross Kemp will reprise his iconic role as EastEnders legend Grant Mitchell for the first time in nine years when the character returns to Walford for the show’s 40th anniversary in February
But EastEnders fans were stunned after Kemp shared a decades old photo of himself during an appearance on Good Morning Britain
Younger years: Kemp was pictured with short dark hair while playing rugby as a young man
The actor was appearing on the ITV breakfast show in 2023 to promote his new book, Take Nothing For Granted: Tales From An Unexpected Life.
Kemp recently revealed why he would never have a hair transplant after developing male pattern baldness – a condition that affects more than 50% of men – in his youth.
The actor is married to his wife Renee O’Brien, a lawyer, and they have three children together – Leo, eight, and twins Ava and Kitty, six. He also has a teenage son Oliver from a previous relationship.
He told The Times: ‘I do try and make myself look presentable, which isn’t easy with this face. I look in the mirror and think: squashed sultana.
‘Do I wish I had a head of hair? Course, but I’d never have hair implants, or plastic surgery to fix this bit under my chin. This is me. If you don’t like it, you know what you can do.’
Kemp originally joined the EastEnders cast almost 35 years ago and soon made his mark as one of half of the legendary Mitchell brothers alongside Phil and loving son to Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell, who was played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor.
The actor said he was ‘delighted’ to return to the show that made his name: ‘EastEnders has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate such a special anniversary, is an absolute honour.’
‘Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang.’
Kemp originally joined the EastEnders cast almost 35 years ago and soon made his mark as one of half of the legendary Mitchell brothers alongside Phil and loving son to Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell, who was played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor.
Grant Mitchell has been part of some of the most memorable storylines in soap history including uncovering his brother’s affair with his wife Sharon in 1994, the death of his second wife Tiffany who was run over by Grant’s stepfather Frank Butcher on New Year’s Eve 1998, and the Mitchell brothers car crash in 1999.
It is not his first return to Albert Square after his initial stint from 1990-1999, he returned for a year in 2005, and again in 2016 for Dame Barbara’s final scenes with her sons.
His character later returned to Portugal with daughter Courtney (Megan Jossa).
Playing on his notorious character’s image, Ross has found success as a documentary maker covering the criminal underworld, including the BAFTA award-winning television series Ross Kemp on Gangs.
His character’s storyline is currently being held under wraps, however, BBC bosses say that his return will ‘play a significant part in the show’s 40th anniversary‘.
Chris Clenshaw the Executive Producer of EastEnders added: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ross Kemp back to EastEnders as he reprises the legendary role of Grant Mitchell.’
‘Whilst I’m not currently revealing exactly what brings Grant back to Walford, I can say that his return will play a significant part in the show’s 40th anniversary, and will make up many moments of truly unmissable TV.’
It is not his first return to Albert Square after his initial stint from 1990-1999, he returned for a year in 2005, and again in 2016 for Dame Barbara’s final scenes with her sons