EastEnders star Laila Morse secretly battled cancer for a second time in 2025, according to her co-star Lacey Turner. The 81-year-old actress, best known for playing Big Mo Harris, had previously beaten breast cancer in 2005.
Lacey Turner, who plays Mo's great-niece Stacey Slater, revealed the news in her autobiography Gold Dust: My Life (So Far) with the Women Who Shaped me, released earlier this month. Turner, 38, wrote a heartfelt tribute to Morse, describing her as "a positive presence with an unstoppable energy" and "one of life's survivors."
Diagnosis revealed after cast gathering
Turner recalled becoming concerned when Morse was absent from a celebration at executive producer Ben Wadey's house, marking Michelle Ryan's return to the BBC soap after 20 years. When Turner asked where Morse was, she was told, "Laila's not well, but don't panic, it won't be anything serious."
After returning from holiday, Turner said Morse bluntly told her: "Hey, you won't f***ing believe this, they ain't polyps, it's f***ing cancer."
Morse's calm reaction and recovery
Despite the diagnosis, Morse reportedly shrugged it off, telling Turner, "Nah don't worry about it, I'll just get it cut off and I'll be alright." Turner wrote that Morse went into surgery "as calmly as you like," though she was in agony afterwards, raging that she "should've just left it there I'm nearly done anyway."
Metro has contacted Laila Morse's representatives for comment on the story.
