EASTENDERS’ Lorraine Stanley looks worlds away from Albert Square in the first-look at her new role.
Lorraine, 48, made her last appearance as Karen Taylor in EastEnders in February last year.
Now the trailer for her furst acting gig since leaving the soap has landed.
Lorraine stars alongside other soap legends in gritty British film Departures.
She’s joined by Hollyoaks hunk David Tag and Coronation Street’s Kimberly Hart-Simpson.
The movie is described as “Shirley Valentine meets LGBTQ Trainspotting” and details the “toxic love story” of Benji [played by writer and co-director Lloyd Eyre-Morgan] and Jake [David Tag].
Lorraine stars as Benji’s mum in the flick, which will have its debut screening at the Manchester Film Festival in March.
She previously spoke to The Sun about her new role and said: “Janet doesn’t mince her words and back in her day it would have been a bit of a shock if someone was openly gay, people didn’t really come out like they do today.
“She’s had to learn along the way and be taught the things you can say and the things you can’t say. She’s got a colourful vocabulary!
Discussing his character Luke, David, 39, said: “He’s a straight, married man who has got a child on the way but it’s almost like he’s trying to find that thrill from somebody so he’s living a double life.”
And Lorraine explained that her character Janet has experienced her own hardships in life.
As well as coming to terms with Benji’s sexuality, Janet has dealt with domestic violence in the past.
I’ll never return to EastEnders after brutal axe – even though auditioning for new jobs is soul-destroying, says Lorraine Stanley
Lorraine said: “She was subject to domestic violence when Benji was growing up which was hard. She does blame herself a little bit for that.”
And, while the movie isn’t set to be released until next year, both Lorraine and David insist they would be up for shooting a sequel.
Lorraine joked: “Oh definitely, we all want a sequel – it’s another job!”
