EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley has showcased her dramatic weight loss after confirming she will leave the BBC soap at the end of the year. The star, who plays Karen Taylor, shared a photo on Instagram Stories of herself flexing in a black Nike vest and leggings, captioning it: 'I’m feeling fantastic!!!' with hashtags including '#fitat40something' and '#weighttrainingforwomen'.
Last year, Stanley lost nearly a stone in six weeks by cutting down on sweet treats and increasing her protein intake. Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, she revealed: 'I've lost 12lbs in six weeks. My mate Louisa is my fitness guru... No carbs, no crisps and chocolate. I'm enjoying it and I feel better for it.'
Stanley announced her departure from EastEnders in the summer, writing on Instagram: 'Thank you to Daran Little for creating the Taylors and to the BBC for giving me the opportunity to play such a fabulous character. I’ll be sad to be saying goodbye to Karen Taylor and will miss all the cast and crew at EastEnders.' She also thanked co-star Gillian Wright for a handmade hat.
Looking ahead, Stanley said she is 'excited about my next chapter and excited about being a jobbing actor again & starting new ventures.' Her character Karen is currently embroiled in a storyline involving a fake kidnap of Albie, which may lead to her exit from Walford.
