Lorraine Stanley
{{short description|English actress (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lorraine Stanley
| image = Lorraine Stanley 2021.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Stanley in 2021
| birth_name = Lorraine Marie Stanley
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|6|28}}
| birth_place = Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
| education = Arts Educational Schools
| yearsactive = 1999–present
| spouse =
| partner = Mark Perez (2014–present)
| children = 1
}}
Lorraine Marie Stanley (born 28 June 1976) is a British actress from Portsmouth, England, known for playing Kelly in the 2006 film London to Brighton and Karen Taylor in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2017–2024).
Early life
Lorraine Marie Stanley was born on 28 June 1976 in Portsmouth, the daughter of June (née Almy), and David Stanley.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2007/04/22/stlorraine12.xml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609213452/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2007/04/22/stlorraine12.xml | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 June 2008 | title=Tipped for the top | first=Sophie | last=Wilson | work=The Telegraph | access-date=22 May 2008| date=22 April 2007}} She was brought up in Portsmouth by her parents, who divorced when she was ten years old.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/2007s-next-big-things-430177.html | title=2007's next big things | newspaper=The Independent | access-date=29 May 2009 | date=30 December 2006 }} She has Scottish, English and Polish ancestry from her father and mother respectively. She then trained at London's Arts Educational Schools.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hsdc.ac.uk/news/2017/07/01/former-south-downs-college-student-joins-eastenders-cast/|title=Former South Downs College student joins Eastenders cast|date=2017-07-01|website=Havant & South Downs College {{!}} HSDC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-31}}
Career
Stanley made her acting debut in 2000, when she appeared in the crime drama film Gangster No. 1 in a minor role as the attacker's friend. She also appeared in episodes of The Bill and London's Burning.{{cite web |title=Gangster No. 1 |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/gangster-no-1/cast/2000123285/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=30 July 2023}}
In 2006, Stanley took the lead role in the neo-noir crime film London to Brighton. She portrayed Kelly, a prostitute who is coerced into procuring an 11-year-old girl for a paedophile.
In 2014, Stanley was cast to play the role of Simone in Spencer Hawken's 2016 film No Reasons.{{cite news | last = Russell | first = Rickey | date = 5 February 2014 | url = http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/02/05/cast-announced-for-no-reasons-1232305 | title = Cast Announced For No Reasons | website = Movie Pilot | publisher = Movie Pilot | access-date = 8 August 2023 | archive-date = 29 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140329052519/http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/02/05/cast-announced-for-no-reasons-1232305 | url-status = bot: unknown }}
=''EastEnders''=
In 2004, Stanley appeared as a young Mo Harris in the EastEnders spin off Pat and Mo which aired in April 2004 and revealed what caused the feud between Mo and sister-in-law Pat Butcher, who was played by Emma Cooke.{{cite web |title=EastEnders' Lorraine Stanley is unrecognisable as Big Mo in flashback episode from 17 years ago |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/eastenders-lorraine-stanley-unrecognisable-big-20797191.amp |website=MyLondon |access-date=30 July 2023}}
In 2016, Stanley appeared in EastEnders as Thelma Bragg, the mother of Linzi Bragg who enters an illegal relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick). She appeared in eight episodes.{{cite web |title=Former EastEnders star Amy-Leigh Hickman would be up for Linzi Bragg return |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a857652/eastenders-cast-amy-leigh-hickman-wants-linzi-bragg-return/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=30 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=9 EastEnders stars who played more than one role in the soap |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a33584106/eastenders-cast-multiple-roles/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=30 July 2023}}
A year later, Stanley returned to EastEnders, this time on a permanent basis portraying Karen Taylor, the head of the newly introduced Taylor family, who arrived in June 2017.{{cite web |title=EastEnders: Meet the Taylors, the new 'not-to-be-messed-with' family |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39894767 |work=BBC News |access-date=30 July 2023 |date=12 May 2017 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410182324/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39894767 |url-status=live }} In July 2023, it was announced that Stanley had been "written out" of the show after six years, and Stanley's final scenes aired on 8 December 2023.{{cite web |title=EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley to be written out of Karen Taylor role |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-lorraine-stanley-karen-taylor-exit-newsupdate/ |website=Radio Times |last=Knight |first=Lewis |date=29 July 2023 |access-date=29 July 2023}} She returned to the series for two guest stints in 2024.
Personal life
Stanley and her partner Mark Perez have been together since 2014, and have a daughter, named Nancy, born in 2015.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-feature/1327919/eastenders-karen-taylor-lorraine-stanley-bbc-family-fame-transformation |title=EastEnders Karen Taylor actress Lorraine Stanley: BBC star's real life uncovered, from family and former fame |last=Knox |first=Miranda |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=2018-06-02}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Film !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2000
|Attacker's Friend | |
| 2001
|Royalty |Kelly |
| 2006
|Kelly |Lead role |
| rowspan="2"|2008
|Nat | |
| Cass
|Linda | |
| rowspan="2"|2009
|Three Moments in Heaven |Woman |Short film |
| In Passing
|Maureen |Short film |
| rowspan="3"|2010
|Rough Cut |Prison councillor |Short film |
| Dead Cert
|Chelle | |
| Made in Dagenham
|Monica | |
| 2011
|Flossy |Straight-to-DVD film |
| 2012
|The Devil's Dosh |Gertrude |Short film |
| 2013
|The Gift |Cyclist |Short film |
| rowspan="6"|2014
|He Who Dares |Marie | |
| Top Dog
|Julie | |
| The Hooligan Factory
|Sharon | |
| The Guvnors
|Cheryl | |
| The Hooligan Wars
|Cookie | |
| Essex Boys Retribution
|Regina | |
| rowspan="3"|2015
|Riot |Drake's mother | |
| Suffragette
|Mrs. Coleman | |
| Legend
|Blind Beggar Barmaid | |
| rowspan="4"|2016
|Wee King of Nowhere |Mum |Short film |
| 100 Streets
|Tina | |
| The Receptionist
|Helen | |
| No Reasons
|Simone | |
| 2018
|Trigger Finger! |Tanya |Short film |
| 2019
|Break Clause |Christy | |
Theatre
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1999
| |National Theatre, UK tour |
| 2004
|To Kill A Mockingbird |Scout |
| rowspan="3"|2008
|Days of Significance | |
| The Frontline
|Val |
| Mine
| |
| 2014
|Wildefire |Gail Wilde |
| 2024
|Dick Whittington – Pompey Panto | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{British Soap Award for Best Newcomer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanley, Lorraine}}
Category:21st-century English actresses
Category:British film actresses
Category:British television actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:British soap opera actresses
Category:Actresses from Portsmouth
Category:Actresses from London