Linda Henry

Linda Henry (born 1 January 1963)^[1] is an English actress, best known for her role as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV television drama Bad Girls (1999–2003). She has also appeared in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders as the original actress to play Lorraine Salter, the mother of Mandy Salter in 1991. She left the role in 1992, and appeared again in the soap as Shirley Carter from 2006 onwards. She appeared in the film Beautiful Thing, in 1996.

Early life

Henry was brought up in Peckham, London.^[2] She spent some time with the 'Old Vic Youth Theatre', and at sixteen was in the same acting group as Rowan Atkinson at Edinburgh. At seventeen she went to the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.^[3] Henry later set up a production company, Buster, which still exists although she is no longer involved with it.

Career

As well as her role in Bad Girls she is also remembered for her role as Sandra in the film Beautiful Thing ^[4] and has appeared in the British television programmes The Bill, Birds of a Feather, Touching Evil, Cracker, A Touch of Frost,^[5] Trial & Retribution as Marilyn Spark and EastEnders, where she played Lorraine Salter, the prostitute mother of the teenage tearaway Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton). (Henry and Stapleton both appeared in Bad Girls, although not at the same time, as Henry's character had been killed off by the time Stapleton arrived.)

She had a minor role in British film The Business as the character Shirley, which also starred Danny Dyer as the main character.

On 8 September 2006 it was announced Henry would be returning to EastEnders in a different role, this time playing Shirley Carter, mother to Carly and Deano and ex-wife of Kevin.^[6] Shirley arrived in Walford in December 2006. Henry took part in the 2008 "WestEnders" Children in Need appeal where she sang alongside other EastEnders cast members. She is close friends with co-star Cheryl Fergison. She also took part in a 2008 EastEnders edition of The Weakest Link and appears in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. In 2009, her co-star in Beautiful Thing, Tameka Empson (she played next-door neighbour Leah Russell to Henry's Sandra Gangel) would join EastEnders herself, as Kim Fox.

Filmography

• 2010: EastEnders: E20 — Shirley Carter (5 episodes)
• 2006: EastEnders — Shirley Carter (2006–present)
• 2005: The Business — Shirley
• 1999: Bad Girls — Yvonne Atkins (1999–2003)
• 1998: Trial & Retribution — Marilyn Spark (2 episodes)
• 1997: Born to Run — Judith (1 episode)
• 1997: Touching Evil TV series .... Justine Barber
• 1996: Beautiful Thing — Sandra Gangel
• 1996: A Touch of Frost — Sue Venables (1 episode)
• 1993: The Bill — Anne Riley / ... (2 episodes, 1993–1995)
• 1995: An Independent Man — Julie Read (1 episode)
• 1995: Prime Suspect — Forensic Scientist
• 1994: Casualty — Diane Daw (1 episode)
• 1994: Moving Story — Sheila Roebuck (1 episode)
• 1993: Cracker — Mrs. Perry (1 episode)
• 1993: Don't Leave Me This Way — Janet Weir
• 1991: EastEnders — Lorraine Salter (1991–92)
• 1990: Birds of a Feather — Viv McCarthy (1 episode)
• 1990: The Play on One — Carol Fairwater (1 episode)
• 1989: The Nineteenth Hole — Council tenant (1 episode, 1989)
• 1989: Forever Green — Doc (1 episode, 1989)
• 19??: Eurocops — Linda Jackson (3 episodes)
• 1988: For Queen & Country — Kim
• 1988: The Comic Strip Presents... — Jackie (1 episode, 1988)
• 1988: Screen Two (1 episode, 1988)
• 1988: Rockliffe's Babies — Sharon Hagerty (1 episode, 1988)
• 1982: The Young Ones — Girl at party (1 episode, 1982)

References

External links

• Linda Henry at the Internet Movie Database