A debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus forced a two-year long absence from "EastEnders" (1985) from 2003 to 2005.
As a child her favourite actress was Betty Grable.
As of 2012 she is the fourth-longest serving actress in the history of "EastEnders" (1985) (behind only Pam St. Clement, June Brown and Wendy Richard), having played the character Peggy Mitchell for 16 years.
First "Carry On" was Carry on Spying (1964).
First husband, Ronnie Knight, fled to Spain after bank robbery charges were filed against him.
Had a much publicised affair with "Carry On" co-star Sid James from 1973 until his death in 1976. The affair was dramatised in the stage play "Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick" and its television adaptation Cor, Blimey! (2000) (TV).
Her "EastEnders" (1985) character Peggy Mitchell's wedding to Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb), dated on 2 April 2009, ranked #1 on "The 50 Greatest "EastEnders" (1985) Weddings of All Time" (2010).
Her "EastEnders" (1985) character Peggy Mitchell's wedding to Frank Butcher (Mike Reid), dated on 1 April 1999, ranked #22 on "The 50 Greatest "EastEnders" (1985) Weddings of All Time" (2010).
Her first job after leaving school at the age of sixteen was as a customer service assistant in a shoe shop.
Her paternal great-grandmother Mary Ann Collins fled with her family from Cork in Ireland to the East End of London during the Irish potato famine and whilst in London she took up work as a match-stick girl.
Holds the record for playing the shortest-serving soap character to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, having won the award at The British Soap Awards 2009 (2009) (TV) for 15 years of playing Peggy Mitchell on "EastEnders" (1985).
In a 1987 TV-AM interview she stated her favourite Carry On film is Carry on Henry VIII (1971).
In her autobiography "All of Me", Windsor candidly talks about her affair with her "Carry On" co-star Sid James. She was also romantically linked to the gangster Reggie Kray in the 1960s as well as "Bee Gee" Maurice Gibb. She also discusses her five abortions, the first three taking place before the age of 21, and the last occurring when she was 42; her cosmetic surgeries; and numerous nervous breakdowns and hospitalizations. She also freely admits her penchant for younger men (present husband Scott Mitchell is 26 years younger than she).
In order to play the character 'Goldie' in the film Carry on Again Doctor (1969) she went on a very strict diet without informing the film's director, Gerald Thomas. Thomas was unhappy on seeing Barbara's new slimline figure and remarked, "Well, that's the joke about Bristols out of the window.".
Is a close friend of "EastEnders" (1985) co-star Patsy Palmer, referring to her as "the daughter she never had".
Is best friends with Anna Karen.
Is one of three "EastEnders" (1985) actresses to have won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards; the others are June Brown and Wendy Richard.
Learned her craft at Aida Foster Theatre School in Golders Green, resulting in her stage debut in a pantomime in December 1950 at the age of thirteen.
Made her West End debut in the musical "Love From Judy" in September 1952 at the age of fifteen.
Measurements: 38-23-33 (at age 18), 36-23-34 (in 1973), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).