Tamzin Outhwaite has emotionally opened up about her family’s journey, revealing for the first time that her eldest child, Flo, is transgender.
The former EastEnders actress, 54, said she was initially distressed when Flo came out around the age of 10 or 11. “I would love to change the way I reacted at the beginning,” she admitted during a heartfelt appearance on the Parenting Hell podcast. “Until it happens in your own family, it’s hard to judge others going through it.”
Tamzin, who shares Flo, now 17, and Marnie, 12, with ex-husband and actor Tom Ellis, confessed she initially felt overwhelmed and unsure. “My mind went to, ‘That’s ludicrous,’ and I had to work my way back from there.” She said both she and Flo attended therapy, describing it as a turning point. “We had some really dark times, but now we’re in a wonderful place.”
Flo, now thriving as an actor, singer, and writer at school, is a source of immense pride for Tamzin. “It’s not even the most interesting thing about him. He’s funny, intelligent and just a joy to watch grow,” she said. “There’s a huge sense of relief and happiness in our home now.”
Tamzin also shared how her younger daughter, Marnie, quickly adapted, immediately embracing her sibling’s transition. “From day one, when she was six, she said, ‘This is my brother Flo,’” Tamzin recalled.
Even Tamzin’s father, once a concern, is now fully supportive. “My dad’s brilliant now. But there was a time I didn’t want Flo to face his wrath,” she admitted. Tamzin described becoming a “padded cell” around Flo, offering unconditional support. “If you push back, they’ll push harder. So I made everything a possibility.”
The actress concluded by emphasising how far their family has come: “We’re not just getting through anymore—we’re thriving.”
