EXCLUSIVE: Lorraine Stanley, who played Karen Taylor for six years, has been caught filming the gritty new drama Cash In Hand, and her Essex transformation is creating a buzz.
Former EastEnders favourite Lorraine Stanley, 49, is gearing up for a blinding telly comeback – and her jaw-dropping transformation as she steps into her newest role, is certainly going to cause a buzz. The much-loved actress, best known for playing loud-but-loveable Karen Taylor on the BBC soap, has been spotted getting stuck into filming for gritty new Brit flick series Cash In Hand, and it looks set to be an absolute belter.
The upcoming drama lifts the lid on the secretive world of Essex grafters – the dealers, doers and day-rate hustlers who keep the county ticking along in ways you won’t find on any spreadsheet.
According to director Thomas Davis, the show will be centered on “cash jobs, dodgy site managers, and everyday hustle,” capturing the loyalty, banter, and chaos that “define life for many.” And Lorraine, who has an unmistakable chemistry of toughness and humor that made her a favorite on Albert Square, dives head-first into the mayhem right in the middle of it all.
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According to insiders, the actress, who embraces a character who embodies attitude and street smarts, is enjoying every minute of her Essex transformation. Lorraine quickly won viewers over with her witty humor and conflicting family tales after joining EastEnders in 2017.
Lorraine bowed out in 2023 after six years in Walford and plenty of drama with the Taylors and Mitchells. She’s now wasting no time by demonstrating that she has much more to offer than just Walford drama, and Cash In Hand might just be the project that demonstrates why she’s one of Britain’s most likable actors.
Since stopping the soap, Lorraine has lost five stone thanks to a gastric sleeve operation.
The mother-of-one’s new life has also been enriched by yet another lifestyle change. She has eliminated alcohol from her diet and replaced it with non-alcoholic beverages. She added that despite being five months sober and still having a good night dancing, she took to her Instagram story to share the same image that was shared on her main feed. #Sobriety”.
When she first revealed her weight loss, Diane Parish, her ex-Co-star from EastEnders and known for playing Denise Fox, praised the actress for her appearance, saying, “You look incredible! “
And James Bye, who played Martin Fowler until recently in the soap, wrote, “Look at you skinny minny”! Angie Greaves, a presenter for Smooth Radio, wrote, “You look amazing!” Thank you, Lorraine replied. I regain my self-confidence”! Another commenter said, “You look absolutely stunning”! A third fan also said to Lorraine, “You have great style and look so happy”!
The actress explained the reason for her weight loss in August. She stated, “I’ve lost 61st. Right now, I weigh 8st. This is the amount of weight I should have been, if you look at my tiny wrists and ankles. I ought to be thin. And that’s how it was up until I hit my late 20s.
When asked how she lost the weight, she said: “I’m not going to lie, nor am I promoting it, but I had weight-loss surgery two years ago. I had a gastric sleeve. I went to Harley Street. I didn’t go to a clinic in Turkey or anything.
I’ve had friends who have traveled to Turkey and had fantastic experiences, but I didn’t trust the process when I said that. So, yes, I went to a London clinic, paid a lot of money, and had the procedure done. The most important thing I’ve ever done is undoubtedly for both myself and my family.
Lorraine publicly described her sobriety journey. She claims that having sobriety has not prevented her from socializing and having fun. Before Karen was written out in 2023 following a complex fake kidnapping plot involving her son Keanu Taylor and his girlfriend Sharon Watts’ son Albie Watts, the TV star made seven appearances on EastEnders. Her final scenes, which were aired in December 2023, came after she fled with some of Phil Mitchell’s money.
After the body of murdered Keanu’s body and his funeral, Lorraine did make a brief appearance in 2024 as Karen. Now that her story is complete, Lorraine has stated she will never ever return to the soap full. She once said to The Sun, “You’ve done a soap once. I’m happy doing what I’m doing right now, but I’d like to stop now.
Never say never because they’ve left the door open. It was nice to see everyone and be a part of the family once more after my special appearance.
Source: Mirror
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