EastEnders actress Harriet Thorpe, who plays Elaine Peacock, has a famous sister who has also appeared on the BBC soap. Matilda Thorpe portrayed Rachel Ford on EastEnders back in 1998, years before Harriet joined the show in 2023.
Harriet Thorpe's EastEnders Role
Harriet made her Walford debut as Elaine Peacock in May 2023, arriving to reconnect with her daughter Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). The former Queen Vic landlady was quickly revealed to be romantically involved with George Knight (Colin Salmon), who was previously married to Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). Over the last three years, Elaine has gone through a divorce, established her own Bed and Breakfast business, and embarked on a love affair with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).
Career Beyond EastEnders
The 69-year-old performer is particularly recognised for her portrayal of Carole Parkinson in the 1990s series The Brittas Empire. She also collaborated with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders on multiple occasions, appearing in eight episodes of French and Saunders between 1987 and 2003, and playing the regular character of Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous from 1992 to 2012, according to the Mirror.
Harriet has taken on parts in Alexei Sayle's Stuff, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Casualty, Material Girl, Endeavour, Midsomer Murders, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and The Bill. Beyond television, she has featured in films including Calendar Girls and worked prolifically in theatre, performing at the Royal National Theatre and across London's West End.
Harriet's Famous Sister
Appearing on Loose Women in 2024, Harriet spoke about her upbringing and revealed that her sister Matilda Thorpe is also an actress. Reflecting on their childhood and family relocation to Los Angeles, Harriet said: "My sister and I, who is also an actress, Matilda Thorpe, we were little children at a normal state primary school. Do you remember the food? It was all sort of grey? Memories! Suddenly I was in Beverly Hills and we went to school and they had an ice cream machine. They had pizza and chocolate milk!"
Matilda is best known for her portrayal of Mandy Mosgrove in Desmond's from 1989 to 1994, before securing parts as Mother in How to Be a Little Sod and as Mandy in Porkpie. Her more contemporary work includes Claire Glass in Sick Note, Nina in One Life, and Auntie Melody in Back to Black, a biographical picture about Amy Winehouse.
Family Life
Harriet and Matilda are the daughters of author Gillian Freeman, who wrote The Leather Boys, and Edward Thorpe, an actor, novelist and ballet critic for the Evening Standard. Harriet is the mother of two children with her husband Howard Baker, whom she is believed to have married in 1989. Her son, Jack Thorpe-Baker, has showcased his acting talents in The Brittas Empire, Life is Sweet, and Ballet Shoes, which also featured Emma Watson.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
