EastEnders star looks unrecognisable in previous role in the soap

ALBERT Square wouldn’t be the same without Linda Henry’s tough alter ego Shirley Carter.

But a Reddit user pointed out the actress starred in a different role before EastEnders fame as the Carter matriarch.

BBC

Linda Henry first appeared in EastEnders as Shirley Carter in 2006[/caption]

BBC

But one Reddit user pointed out she had another brief stint in the 90s[/caption]

BBC

She took on the role of Lorraine Salter in 1991[/caption]

No-nonsense Shirley has been a long-term resident in Walford, making her first appearance in December, 2006.

She has since been involved in explosive storylines, some involving heartache and others including heart-breaking deaths.

However, one diehard soap fan named GilesTower took to Reddit with a snap from actress Linda Henry‘s early days in the London-based drama.

The 63-year-old star hasn’t always been known as Shirley Carter.

In fact, during her EastEnders debut in 1991, she actually slipped into the skin of Lorraine Salter before Victoria Alcock took on the role in 2012.

Reddit users were stunned by Linda Henry’s appearance as she sported an 80’s choppy and blonde mullet.

The character was seen going into a bar with fellow EastEnders icon, Pat Butcher and the pair were accosted by a man who claimed Lorraine was a prostitute.

Shortly after, Lorraine showed up at the Butchers’ house, requesting a place to stay – but tensions soon arose and she threatened to tell Frank that Pat had been cruising for other men in bars.

Lorraine became a wake-up call for Pat who quickly realised she’d left her promiscuous lifestyle behind her.

In 1992, Lorraine called Pat from the hospital claiming to have been severely beaten by her boyfriend Gary – and begging for her to take her daughter Mandy under her wing.

Although reluctant to help, Pat eventually accepted but this didn’t stop Lorraine from going back to her old habits and abandoning her own daughter.

Lorraine was then never heard from again but finally decided to resurface in 2012.

But Linda isn’t the only actress to have started off in EastEnders as another character.

Before he became known as Zack Hudson, James Farrar was seen as a character named Brendan in 2011.

His stint was brief but he then joined the long-running drama as the hunky chef and has become a series regular since Marc, 2021.

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.

BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes

Shirley has been involved in many dramatic and sometimes heart-breaking storylines[/caption]

BBC

The character is a fan favourite[/caption]