EXCLUSIVE: Former EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley, who played Karen Taylor for six years, has been spotted filming gritty new drama Cash In Hand – and her Essex makeover is causing 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.
The show will be set around “cash jobs, dodgy site managers, and everyday hustle, capturing the loyalty, banter, and chaos that defines life for many”, according to Director, Thomas Davis. And right in the middle of it all is Lorraine, diving head-first into the mayhem with that unmistakable mix of toughness and humour that made her a fan favourite on Albert Square.
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Insiders say the actress is loving every minute of her Essex makeover, embracing a character dripping with street smarts and attitude. After joining EastEnders in 2017, Lorraine quickly won viewers over with her sharp tongue and chaotic family storylines.
After six years in Walford – and plenty of drama with the Taylors and Mitchells – Lorraine bowed out in 2023. Now she’s wasting no time proving she’s got far more to give than just Walford drama – and Cash In Hand could be the project that reminds viewers exactly why she’s one of Britain’s most watchable performers.
Lorraine managed to achieve her five-stone weight loss since leaving the soap with help from a gastric sleeve operation.
Yet another lifestyle change has also contributed to the mum-of-one’s new lease of life. She’s banished alcohol from her diet and has swapped booze for non-alcoholic options. Taking to her Instagram story to upload the same image posted onto her main feed, she added: “I’m five months sober and still had a good night dancing! #Sobriety.”
When she first unveiled her weight loss, the star was flooded positive comments on how well she looked, including her former EastEnders co-star Diane Parish, known for playing Denise Fox, who commented: “You look incredible!”
And James Bye, who played Martin Fowler until recently in the soap, posted: “Look at you skinny minny!” Smooth Radio presenter Angie Greaves wrote: “You look amazing!” Lorraine responded: “Thank you! I feel like myself again!” Another commenter put: “You look absolutely stunning!” And, a third fan told Lorraine: “You have great style and look so happy!”
In August, the star admitted the reason behind her weight loss. She revealed: “I’ve lost 6½st. I weigh 8st now. If you look at my little wrists and ankles, this is the weight I should have been. I should be a thin person. And I always was, until I hit my late twenties.”
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.
“In saying that, I’ve had friends who’ve gone to Turkey and had great experiences, but I didn’t trust that process. So, yeah, I went to a London clinic, paid an awful lot of money and had it done. It’s hands-down the best thing I’ve ever done – both for me and for my family.”
Lorraine publicly shared her journey toward sobriety. She has said that being sober has not stopped her from having fun and enjoying social events. The TV star appeared in EastEnders for seven years before Karen was written out in 2023 after a complicated fake kidnap plot involving her son Keanu Taylor and his girlfriend Sharon Watts son Albie Watts. Her final scenes aired in December 2023 after she ran away with a chunk of cash stolen from Phil Mitchell.
Lorraine did return as Karen for a couple of brief scenes in 2024 after the discovery of murdered Keanu’s body and for his funeral. Lorraine has claimed she would never return to the soap full time now that her story has wrapped. She told The Sun last year: “Once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done a soap. At the moment I wouldn’t go back, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.
“They’ve left the door open, so never say never. I made that special appearance and it was nice to see everyone and be a part of the family again.”
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