An EastEnders newcomer will live up to her character Elaine Peacock’s name as she struts her stuff in the Queen Vic.
Harriet Thorpe, 65, has absolutely no intention of playing Elaine, mum of Linda Carter, as a shy old lady.
In fact, she hopes the in-your-face, feisty matriarch will fly the flag for women over 60 and impress by wearing racy pleather and platform boots.
Elaine has returned to Albert Square to help Linda – played by Kellie Bright – run the Vic but, Harriet revealed, she will quickly be seen “taking control”.
In an exclusive interview, Harriet said she was thrilled to be joining the soap. She said: “I don’t have to put the cockney accent on. Two generations ago my family were from the East End so this feels like going home.
“My great grandma was in the East End and she ended up making corsets there.
“I haven’t let it leave me, and now being able to talk with a cockney accent every day at work is incredible.”
Elaine was played by Maria Friedman until 2017 but Harriet was not put off by taking over the role.
She pointed out that Walford legend Barbara Windsor was the second actress to play Peggy Mitchell. “All the women who have played those roles have been iconic.
“But you can’t be like them, you have to find your own way to deliver that strength.
“Characters are re-birthed all the time, and that’s a tribute to the creativity the show has.”
Actress Harriet is best known as the often tearful receptionist Carole in The Brittas Empire, which starred Chris Barrie, and in Absolutely Fabulous as Fleur, the make-up obsessed friend of Catriona, played by Helen Lederer.
Harriet hopes her EastEnders role will inspire other women to be bolder.
“I want to honour 65-year-old women today who are not little nannies with blue hair or a pencil skirt. Elaine is a forthright, amazing woman.
“She wears a pleather skirt and platform boots. She’s in your face.
“I am who I am, my age is immaterial. And that’s also Elaine. She isn’t defined by a number. She can be forthright, strong, a businesswoman – and she’s fearless.”
