EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley expected to be wearing a redcoat instead of walking on a red carpet.
Working class Lorraine, who plays Albert Square loudmouth Karen Taylor, grew up believing acting jobs on telly were just for posh people.
She was convinced the highest goal she could aim for was to be a Butlins redcoat.
But then she saw Kathy Burke in the harrowing film Nil By Mouth and realised she could be aiming far higher in her career.
Next month she will be on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards, where she is up for the best actress gong.
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Mum-of-one Lorraine, 42, hopes her story will inspire others.
She said: “I come from an estate in Portsmouth. I remember watching Kathy Burke and thinking she’s like me. A working class actress.
“I once followed her to the toilets at an event! She was lovely. I thought I’d be a redcoat, that was all I was capable of.”
But Lorraine got a scholarship from the local council and went to college in London.
In her first job after drama school – in the George Bernard Shaw play Widowers’ Houses – she was taken under the wing of Fiona Shaw, who won a best supporting actor Bafta for her role in drama Killing Eve .
Lorraine said: “On the first day she brought fruit, croissants and champagne. I knew from then we’d get on. I learnt so much from her.” EastEnders also won a Bafta at the recent awards – for best soap. Lorraine hopes to add to that haul at the Soap Awards in Manchester, on ITV on June 1.
Last year she won best newcomer. This year she is vying for best actress against Coronation Street ’s Alison King, who plays Carla Connor and Emmerdale’s Lucy Pargeter, Chas Dingle.
Hollyoaks’ Stephanie Davis, who plays Sinead Shelby and Lauren McQueen, who played Lily McQueen, are also hoping for the nod.
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If she wins Lorraine will get bragging rights at home. She explained: “I grew up watching EastEnders. My mum’s the biggest fan. It’s all about making my mum proud. I wind my three sisters up saying that I’m definitely the favourite.”
But keen followers of Karen, who wears joggers and tops revealing her bra straps, may do a double take when they see Lorraine on the red carpet. Lorraine laughed: “I don’t take any of her clothes home.
“People are shocked when they see me dressed up. They say I scrub up well. People recognise me because of my teeth.
“Someone once said ‘I knew it was you, I could tell by those teeth.’ It’s all good, I’m happy with my teeth!”
Vote for your favourites at britishsoapawards.tv/vote .
