'EastEnders': Linda Marlowe To Join BBC Soap As Shirley Carter's Mother, Sylvie
Veteran Actress Set To Make Waves In Albert Square
Matt Bagwell— The Huffington Post UK
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'EastEnders' bosses have signed up veteran actress Linda Marlowe to play Shirley Carter's mother in the BBC soap.
The 74-year-old star, who is best known for her roles in 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy', 'The House of Mirth' and 'Love Hurts', has taken on the role of Shirley Carter's hard-as-nails battle-axe mother, Sylvie.
Linda started filming her first scenes this week, which will be aired later this year.
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Linda Marlowe has already started filming her first scenes
Her arrival in Albert Square comes just months after 'EastEnders' star Timothy West - who plays Stan Carter - spoke out about older actors being 'under represented' in the soap.
A show source said: “Sylvie struggled with a house full of kids, an abusive husband in Stan, and having to raise a child that wasn’t her own.
"Although manipulative and used to getting her own way, she is forced to seek help from the family she abandoned years ago.
“However the Walford welcome will be anything but warm.”
Speaking about her new role, Linda said: “I’m totally thrilled to be joining the cast of EastEnders and playing such a wonderful character”.
Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said: “We've had Sylvie Carter - and Linda Marlowe - in our heads for almost as long as Shirley has been on Albert Square.
"Linda is such an intuitive, raw and skilled actress, perfect to bring to life the brittle faded glamour of this most selfish of mothers.
“Sylvie's return is going to open old wounds in the Carter family - and watching Linda Marlowe, Annette Badland, Ann Mitchell and Timothy West going for it on screen is going to be electric”.
Maria has been cast as Elaine Peacock, Linda Carter’s mum, and arrives in Walford to pick up the pieces when the soap is rocked by a dramatic rape storyline this autumn.
EastEnders dream plots
Grant Mitchell(01 of09)
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After undergoing a hair-transplant, a fully-thatched Grant Mitchell returns from Brazil with a big secret for Phil - he's found love with a house boy called Christiano and wants his brother to be best man at their carnival-themed wedding to take place on the Square. (credit:BBC)
Chrissie Watts(02 of09)
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Upon her release from prison after serving nine years for killing husband Den Watts, Chrissie heads straight to the Square to exact her revenge on Sharon, deciding to set her up for the murder of son Denny. (credit:BBC)
Peggy Mitchell(03 of09)
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Having found out that Phil has sold her beloved Queen Vic to the Carter family, Peggy has secretly been watching them for months and has undergone plastic surgery to look just like landlady Linda. After luring her into the Arches, she takes Linda hostage and then takes up residence behind the bar, going totally unnoticed by the rest of the Carter clan. However, her cover is blown when she utters the immortal line "GERROUTTA MY PUB!" (credit:BBC)
Little Mo(04 of09)
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After years of being mistreated, Mo is now working as a screw in a tough women's prison. However, she is lured into a life of crime when newly-incarcerated Janine becomes one of her inmates, and uses her her residual feelings for ex-husband Billy to manipulate her into helping her escape prison. (credit:BBC)
Tanya Branning(05 of09)
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Tanya returns to Walford having lost the last 10 years of her memory after slipping over in the salon, believing she is still happily married to Max. He decides to take advantage of the situation and make things work with her, and they live happily ever after. (credit:BBC)
Kathy Beale(06 of09)
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While many thought 'Kaffy' was six feet under after dying in a car crash in South Africa, it turned out it was just a ploy to escape the clutches of her abusive boyfriend. After hearing he has now died, she returns to Walford to visit sons Ian and Ben, only to discover Ben is in prison the murder of Heather. Determined to make Phil pay for ruining their son's life, she teams up with Ian to convince Phil he is losing his mind. (credit:BBC)
Beppe Di Marco(07 of09)
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Newly buff Beppe is revealed as the new owner of the local gym. In a bid to catch his eye, Shirley begins working out at the gym, but she finds a love for weight training and soon becomes Walford's answer to Jodie Marsh. (credit:BBC)
Martin Fowler(08 of09)
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With ex Sonia now back on the Square caring for her cancer-stricken mother Carol, Martin arrives to help look after their daughter Rebecca. Now married to a music executive, he's less than impressed that Rebecca has inherited Sonia's love of the trumpet, and launches a plan to turn her into a pop star and get Simon Cowell to sign her. There's only one problem - she can't sing. (credit:BBC)
Archie Mitchell(09 of09)
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Archie comes back as a ghostly vision, taunting daughter Ronnie for her recent crimes. She then becomes convinced she is actually her father, as is carted off to a mental institution never to be seen again. (credit:BBC)