They shared the screen together for 13 years on EastEnders, but you might not have realised Linda Henry and Tameka Empson have history way before their days on Albert Square.

The actresses, who are best known for their roles as Shirley Carter and Kim Fox on the BBC soap, previously starred together in 1996 film Beautiful Thing.

The movie tells the story of two gay teenagers who live next door to each other on a council estate in Thamesmead, London.

Linda played one of the boys’ mothers, Sandra Gangel, while Tameka played their friend Leah Russell.

Written by playwright Jonathan Harvey – who went on to work on Coronation Street for 20 years – it is based on his original play of the same name and features the music of The Mamas & the Papas and ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot. corrienews.info 

EastEnders fans have been remembering the British rom-com after a post about it began circulating on Facebook.

‘I barely recognised our Shirley,’ wrote one fan.

‘Brilliant film!! Pure comedy but touching too!’ one person commented.

‘Loved the film. Linda & Tameka were so young,’ another said.

A fourth added: ‘Tameka is hilarious in this.’

Some fans were also quick to point out there were more EastEnders connections to the film.

The late Anna Karen, who played Peggy’s sister Aunt Sal in the soap, also appeared as a character called Marlene.

Meanwhile, Scott Neal, who played one of the romantic leads, shared scenes with Linda in the Queen Vic when was cast as Elaine Peacock’s (then played by Maria Friedman) new boyfriend Jason Adams in 2015.

While Tameka is still very much a part of the EastEnders cast, Linda has been on an extended break from the soap since 2022.

Her character Shirley Carter left Albert Square after her son Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) was presumed to have drowned.

Over two years on, fans are still in the dark about when Shirley will be back.

Last year, she reunited with Beautiful Thing writer Jonathan Harvey over lunch.

‘Love this woman,’ Jonathan wrote in a post on X.

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