Tamzin Outhwaite has spoken candidly about her eldest child coming out as transgender, describing it as a "long journey" that has ultimately brought her family closer together. The 55-year-old EastEnders actress revealed that her child Flo, 17, is now "thriving" after years of emotional challenges and family adjustments.
A Mother's Perspective on Transition
The actress, who shares two children with ex-husband Tom Ellis, 47, explained that Flo came out as trans when he was "about 10 or 11." Outhwaite told The Mirror at the British Diversity Awards: "It's been a long journey. A very long journey, but we're in a great place now." She added with evident emotion: "I'm just happy that he's happy, and that's how I feel at the moment. He's thriving, absolutely thriving."
Navigating Parenting Challenges
Outhwaite initially decided to discuss her experiences with parenting a trans child to promote compassion and understanding. She emphasized the importance of sensitivity, noting: "The whole LGBT community get a bit of a hard rap at the moment – it's quite tough, I think. It is a hot topic." The actress acknowledged that therapy played a crucial role in helping her understand Flo's perspective, stating: "Until you're going through it yourself with your child, it's difficult to judge the situation."
She reflected on her parenting approach: "I think if you push back on a kid, they'll want to do the opposite of what their parent says. I didn't say, 'You can't be that,' but it was a distressing time. We worked together as a family and with outside help."
Respecting Boundaries and Privacy
Despite her willingness to share her family's story, Outhwaite maintains clear boundaries regarding her children's privacy. She revealed: "I'm not allowed to talk about him [Flo]. I was only allowed to talk about him on Rob [Beckett] and Josh [Widdicombe]'s podcast, Parenting Hell, because it's his favourite podcast." She respects this decision completely, adding: "So I was allowed to talk about him with both of those two, but I'm not allowed to talk about him anywhere else, and I respect that decision."
Family Dynamics and Healing
Outhwaite has two children: Flo, 17, and Marnie, 12. She described the family's current situation positively: "Now we're in a really wonderful place as a family. Flo is in a wonderful place as a brilliant actor, singer, writer, and director in his sixth form. And Marnie is thriving."
The actress also addressed her relationship with ex-boyfriend Tom Child, from whom she split in 2024 after six years together. She explained they remain "best mates," noting that Child was "around for the whole of, like, Flo's transitioning period" and remains "a member of the family."
Reconciliation with Ex-Husband
Outhwaite's relationship with ex-husband Tom Ellis has also shown signs of healing. In 2023, she marked ten years since their marriage breakdown with a social media post that referenced infidelities, though she later deleted it. However, last August she re-posted pictures of Ellis with their children at a Netflix premiere, writing: "My heart is bursting #suchaproudmama."
Throughout her reflections, Outhwaite emphasized that being trans is "not the most interesting thing" about Flo. She showered her son with praise: "He's an incredibly funny, intelligent boy. And I'm watching him grow into a wonderful human who's very talented. And to see him thriving is just nothing but relief and joy for me, really. Because there were some dark times."
The actress concluded by highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and family support, noting that "every child is different" and that the journey has ultimately strengthened their family bonds.
