Former EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley has revealed details of her new role in the feature film 'Departures', following her departure from the BBC soap last year. Stanley played Karen Taylor on EastEnders for several years, with her character taking the blame for the fake kidnap of baby Albie to protect her son Keanu.
The film, described as a 'British northern gritty comedy-drama', follows protagonist Benji on a quest for redemption. Stanley will portray Benji's mother, Janet. She said: 'It was a pleasure to work in Manchester with Lloyd and Neil, and a really lovely cast and crew. This film is an LGBTQ project about grief and loss of letting go of a toxic relationship.'
Stanley added: 'I was honoured to be offered the part of Janet - Benji's mum as I've worked with Lloyd Eyre-Morgan before and love his style of work. As you'll see in the film, Janet has had a hard past and is trying to support her son throughout his journey in the best way she can (although she has an old-school mentality and can be very brash).'
Filming for 'Departures' has commenced in Manchester, with a cast including Hollyoaks' David Tag, Emmerdale's Liam Boyle, and Waterloo Road's Olly Rhodes. The film is directed by Neil Ely and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan.
Announcing her exit from EastEnders on Instagram, Stanley expressed gratitude to the creators and cast, and said she was looking forward to new ventures.
