Kim Fox | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Tameka Empson | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration | 2009–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||
First appearance | Episode 3898 24 November 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Created by | Dominic Treadwell-Collins[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Introduced by | Diederick Santer (2009) Bryan Kirkwood (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Spin-off appearances |
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Kim Fox (also Fox-Hubbard) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tameka Empson. She is the half-sister of Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and aunt to Chelsea Fox (Tiana Benjamin/Zaraah Abrahams) and Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu). She first appeared as a guest character on 24 November 2009, and was reintroduced in 2010 as a regular character after piquing the interest of new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood. Empson took maternity leave in October 2013 and after appearing several times during her break via webcam, Kim returned to Albert Square on 30 December 2014.[4][5][6][7][8] It was announced on 16 July 2019 that Empson would be taking a break from the show but will return at some point in the future.[9] She departed on 23 July 2019. Kim made a special appearance via webcam on 25 December 2019. Empson returned following her maternity break in the episode broadcast on 16 November 2020. Empson took a brief break in early 2024, with Kim departing on 25 January 2024, returning on 10 June 2024.
Kim is described as "viscous and bubbly" on the outside, but hiding vulnerability and low self-esteem. The EastEnders website describes Kim as having big hair, a loud personality, hyperactive and a big heart. She is sharp, family-orientated and cares about her appearance, having a loud dress sense and being the life and soul of any party. She chooses the wrong men to have relationships with, but knows what she wants when it comes to love. Kim makes her first appearance for Denise's wedding to Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet). She briefly returns after Denise is presumed dead, but makes a more permanent return when she separates from her boyfriend Dexter Mulholland (Robbie Gee). Kim kisses Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), sparking a brief feud with his wife, Bianca (Patsy Palmer). She establishes a short-lived speakeasy and later opens a bed and breakfast. Kim also goes through an HIV scare and has a relationship with Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn). Kim gives birth to her daughter, Pearl, prematurely during EastEnders Live Week, which celebrated EastEnders' 30th anniversary. In later storylines, Kim suffers a miscarriage, has to cope with becoming a single mother to her and Vincent Hubbard's (Richard Blackwood) children, Pearl and Mica, following Vincent's mysterious disappearance, has a relationship with Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson), becomes a social media influencer, and develops post-traumatic stress disorder from a car accident with her and Howie's teenage son Denzel (Jaden Ladega).
Kim is often shown in a comedic light and as a result, Empson earned a nomination for "Best Comedy Performance" at the 2011 British Soap Awards. That same year she won the "Funniest Performance" award at the Inside Soap Awards and again the following year. Ruth Deller from entertainment website Lowculture praised the character during her guest appearance in 2009 and later said Kim is a "big, ballsy, whirlwind", who provides some light relief to the show. Daniel Maier from The Guardian has criticised Kim's B&B venture, calling it a "holding pen for characters who are 'between homes' within Albert Square's hermetically sealed biosphere."