Former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite has given birth to her first baby, it was announced yesterday.

The 37-year-old star married actor Tom Ellis in June 2006. They have named their first child together Florence Elsie Ellis.

A spokesman said: "We are pleased to announce that Tamzin Outhwaite and Tom Ellis are the proud parents of Florence Elsie Ellis who arrived last week."

Proud parents: Tamzin Outhwaite and husband Tom Ellis have named their newborn baby girl Florence

The ex-Hotel Babylon star has previously spoken of her desire to become a mother, saying: "Having children is my biggest dream. I'd be happy not to work again and look after the children."

Outhwaite has enjoyed a string of TV and theatre roles since quitting the BBC1 soap EastEnders in 2002.

Ellis, who has also starred in EastEnders, has a daughter Nora, two, from a previous relationship.

The couple told of their delight when Tamzin's pregnancy was first revealed.

Tamzin said: "It took a lot longer to find my ideal man than I thought it was going to. I've wanted a child for a long time.

Thrilled: Actress Tamzin, pictured in April, has said that having children is her biggest dream

"I wouldn't say my body clock was ticking that loudly but I've spent my life mothering my brothers, Jake and Kes, my cousins, even my friends, and there was a part of me that wanted to and really needed to be a mother.

She added: "It was a case of waiting for the right time, finding the person I wanted to have that child with. Tom is that person."

The pair  tied the knot in a romantic, star-studded country wedding in June 2006 after a whirlwind one year romance.

Among the guests at the Somerset wedding were Liam Gallagher, Nicole and Natalie Appleton, Kate Thorton, Max Beesley and Susie Amy.

Tamzin leapt to fame in 1998 as sexy Walford resident Melanie Healy, a feisty character who enjoyed brief marriages to Ian Beale and Steve Owen.

In 2000, Outhwaite split from her fiancé Marty Benson, before relationships with Ali G's DJ Steve Ellington and snowboarder Jamie Baker