4
4
Lorraine Stanley, who portrayed Karen Taylor, was written out of the show in 2023 as part of a shock cast shake-up.
The soap star, 48, has been brutally honest about how hard it has been finding work since being axed from the show.
She shared a funny photo on her Instagram Stories wearing oversized glasses and pulling a humorous face.
The star wrote alongside it: “I didn’t get the job, but at least I still got my good looks and sense of humour.
“But it’s given me some confidence getting back in the room and I did get some good feedback…
“So onwards and upwards.”
Lorraine played downtrodden laundrette worker Karen since 2017.
She earned the 2018 British Soap Award for Best Newcomer and the 2019 Inside Soap Award for Funniest Female.
But Lorraine previously told The Sun she wouldn’t be returning to the BBC soap in a hurry.
She admitted: “I’m a busy mum at the moment. I don’t plan on doing anymore soaps, once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done a soap.
I’ll never return to EastEnders after brutal axe – even though auditioning for new jobs is soul-destroying, says Lorraine Stanley
“At the moment I’m auditioning, I’m just doing self-tapes, which is soul-destroying. It’s horrible, I’m so bad at it.”
Behind the scenes she has embarked on a weight-loss and fitness journey with a total body transformation.
The star is now slimmer than ever after showing off her five-stone body makeover.
Sharing before and after pictures last year, she told fans that she’d been making “healthy choices”.
Since leaving the soap, Lorraine has acted alongside other soap legends in gritty British film Departures.
She joined Hollyoaks hunk David Tag and Coronation Street’s Kimberly Hart-Simpson in the project.
The movie is described as “Shirley Valentine meets LGBTQ Trainspotting”.
4
4
Lorraine Stanley, best known for her role as Karen Taylor on EastEnders, has been candid about her struggles following her unexpected exit from the soap in 2023. After being written out as part of a major cast shake-up, Lorraine has faced the difficult challenge of finding new opportunities, but she has remained upbeat and committed to her career.
Post-EastEnders Career Struggles
Lorraine, 48, has opened up on social media about the difficulty of securing work since her departure from the iconic soap. In a lighthearted Instagram post, Lorraine shared a humorous picture of herself wearing oversized glasses and pulling a funny face, accompanied by a caption that showed her resilience despite the setbacks. She wrote, “I didn’t get the job, but at least I still got my good looks and sense of humour.” While admitting to the challenges of auditioning, she noted that she received some positive feedback and is taking it as a confidence boost for future opportunities, saying, “So onwards and upwards.”
A New Chapter Beyond Soap Operas
Although Lorraine admitted in a previous interview that she does not plan on returning to EastEnders, she’s been keeping busy. She expressed that once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done it, and currently, her focus is on auditions and personal projects. Despite the soul-crushing nature of self-tape auditions, Lorraine has persevered, which reflects her determination to continue her career beyond soap operas.
In addition to auditioning for new roles, Lorraine has embraced a new chapter in her personal life, undertaking a body transformation journey that has seen her shed an impressive five stones. She’s been sharing her progress with fans, emphasizing the importance of making healthy choices. The transformation is part of a broader focus on her personal well-being after leaving the soap.
New Projects and Collaborations
Since her departure from EastEnders, Lorraine has worked on other projects, including the British film Departures. In the gritty film, Lorraine shares the screen with other soap legends, including Hollyoaks’ David Tag and Coronation Street’s Kimberly Hart-Simpson. Described as a mix of Shirley Valentine and LGBTQ Trainspotting, Departures marks an exciting new direction for Lorraine’s acting career, allowing her to step into different types of roles and work alongside talented actors from other soap operas.
Lorraine’s journey after EastEnders proves that while leaving a beloved character behind can be challenging, it also opens up opportunities for growth, reinvention, and new challenges. Fans continue to support Lorraine as she embarks on this new chapter, eager to see where her career will go next.
