Born on October 2, 1950, in London, England, Sandy Ratcliff initially pursued a career as a model, earning the nickname "The Face of the 70s" courtesy of renowned photographer Lord Snowden. However, she soon redirected her focus towards acting, taking on the lead role in Ken Loach's 1971 film "Family Life". She later appeared in the 1979 film "Radio On", but it was her iconic portrayal of Sue Osman in the BBC soap "EastEnders" that garnered her widespread recognition.
Ratcliff joined the show's original cast in 1985 and played the role of the cafe owner until her departure in 1989. Unfortunately, her addiction to heroin led to her dismissal from the show. The subsequent years were marked by personal struggles and health issues, including a battle with cancer. Additionally, Ratcliff found herself in the headlines when she provided a false alibi for her boyfriend Michael Shorey, who was subsequently sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of two women.
Despite these challenges, Ratcliff eventually retrained as a counsellor and retired by 2010. She spent her later years residing in sheltered accommodation, where her body was discovered on the morning of April 7, 2019, at the age of 70.
