EastEnders legend Lorraine Stanley showcases incredible five stone weight loss

Lorraine Stanley showcased her incredible weight loss during an appearance at a charity event over the weekend.

The EastEnders actress, best known for her role as Karen Taylor on the BBC soap,arrived at the Paul Strank Charitable Trust summer party to help raise funds to support disadvantaged families. But dressed in a flowing skirt complete with shimmering bodice, her new figure did not go unnoticed.

Lorraine, 49, managed to achieve her five-stone weight loss since leaving the soap with help from a gastric sleeve operation.

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Yet another lifestyle change has also contributed to the mum-of-one's new lease of life. She's banished alcohol from her diet and has swapped booze for non-alcoholic options. Taking to her Instagram story to upload the same image posted onto her main feed, she added: "I'm five months sober and still had a good night dancing! #Sobriety."

The soap star was in great spirits at the event, and and had scooped her long hair back whilst accessorising with classy earrings and standing tall in a pair of golden heels. Whilst partying the night away, she was seen as seen talking to the her fellow former EastEnders star Ricky ‘Fat Boy’ Norwood and she even danced along to 1990s boyband Blue.

When she first unveiled her weight loss, the star was flooded positive comments on how well she looked, including her former EastEnders co-star Diane Parish, known for playing Denise Fox, who commented: "You look incredible!"

And James Bye, who played Martin Fowler until recently in the soap, posted: "Look at you skinny minny!" Smooth Radio presenter Angie Greaves wrote: "You look amazing!" Lorraine responded: "Thank you! I feel like myself again!" Another commenter put: "You look absolutely stunning!" And, a third fan told Lorraine: "You have great style and look so happy!"

Lorraine publicly shared her journey toward sobriety. She has said that being sober has not stopped her from having fun and enjoying social events. The TV star appeared in EastEnders for seven years before Karen was written out in 2023 after a complicated fake kidnap plot involving her son Keanu Taylor and his girlfriend Sharon Watts son Albie Watts. Her final scenes aired in December 2023 after she ran away with a chunk of cash stolen from Phil Mitchell.

Lorraine did return as Karen for a couple of brief scenes in 2024 after the discovery of murdered Keanu's body and for his funeral. Lorraine has claimed she would never return to the soap full time now that her story has wrapped. She told The Sun last year: "Once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done a soap. At the moment I wouldn't go back, I'm happy doing what I'm doing.

"They've left the door open, so never say never. I made that special appearance and it was nice to see everyone and be a part of the family again."

Since exiting EastEnders, Lorraine has explained the unexpected hurdles she's faced while looking for a new role. She said: "At the moment I'm auditioning, I'm just doing self-tapes, which is soul-destroying. It's horrible, I'm so bad at it. But I'm doing Panto in my hometown of Portsmouth, I'm playing Queen Rat, I've never done it before and I'm so excited."

But in June 2024, Lorraine confirmed she had been seen on Albert Square for the last time and she would not be coming back. Sharing a video montage of moment of her time on the show, she shared an emotional statement about her exit. She wrote: "Well that’s a wrap!! I’ve had the best 7 years!! Thankyou @bbceastenders for having me. @daranlittle for creating the Taylor’s, Sean O’Connor for giving me the opportunity with the @bbc @crampsielinge for casting me,I really can’t thank you enough.

She added: "The cast, crew, Directors, writers, makeup, wardrobe all made my time on the show so much fun and I had the best giggles,I’ve had a ball playing Karen Taylor & I’m very proud of what the Taylor/Bakers brought to the show! Thank you to the fans who have all been wonderfully bonkers. I haven’t got photos of everyone but here’s a little montage of the photos I have. Adios."

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