Charlie Brooks, 44, best known as Janine Butcher from EastEnders, recently delighted fans by slipping into a colourful minidress she purchased more than 22 years ago before her daughter was born.

Sharing a photo on Instagram, she revealed that this childhood favourite brings back fond memories and still brings her joy. Despite posting a seemingly serious expression, she assured followers that she really is feeling happy.

She captioned the post: ‘Bought this dress over 22 years ago, before my kid was born, and I STILL love it. It actually makes me feel very happy. Funny how a piece of clothing can do that. My face doesn’t look happy. But I am actually very happy.’

Supporters flooded the comments with praise, admiring how slim she looks and the fact that the dress still fits and that she’s supporting sustainable fashion.

One fan wrote, ‘I love your sense of style, you’re so creative. Like you, I relate to the sentiment. But what I love most of all is that you’ve kept it, and it’s not just another item of clothing that has been disposed of 🌏💚✨ xx’, ‘Beautiful dress. I would buy that now if it was available 😍’ and her daughter Kiki even chimed in with a cheeky comment telling her mum to ‘cheer up’.

Charlie Brooks made her EastEnders debut in 1999 as Janine Butcher, the troubled and manipulative daughter of Frank Butcher. She quickly became one of the show’s most notorious characters, known for her sharp tongue, scheming ways, and headline-making storylines.

From pushing Barry Evans off a cliff in Scotland to framing others for crimes and blackmailing love interests, Janine was the character fans loved to hate. Brooks’s performance won her widespread recognition, including a National Television Award for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2012.

Despite several departures and returns over the years, Charlie always brought Janine back with fresh depth. Her most recent stint began in 2021 and concluded in late 2022, when Janine fled Walford after being exposed for a web of lies and manipulation, once again proving she’s a master of high-stakes drama.

While fans always hope for another comeback, Charlie seems content to take a break from the soap world for now and focus on life’s simpler pleasures, while still turning heads on Instagram.

Recently, Charlie opened up about embracing life in a phase without steady employment. After leaving EastEnders in December 2022, she’s admitted to enjoying life’s simple pleasures such as home time with her dog, long strolls, reading, and catching up with friends. Despite lacking work-related validation, she shared that these moments genuinely make her ‘happy.’