EXCLUSIVE: Former EastEnders star Claire Norris recalls funny behind-the-scenes moment after being mistaken for Lorraine Stanley’s assistant
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An EastEnders star has shared a funny yet awkward first encounter with a former co-star following her exit from Albert Square.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star in collaboration with casino.org, actress Claire Norris reflected on her early days on the BBC soap and the nerves of stepping onto one of Britain’s most iconic TV sets — including a memorable meeting with Lorraine Stanley, who played her on-screen mum, Karen Taylor.
She explained that her very first day wasn’t even for filming, but it still left a lasting impression. “Yeah, my first day wasn’t actually a filming day. We had to go in for hair, makeup, and costume fittings before shooting began. That’s when I first met Lorraine [Stanley, who played Karen Taylor].”
The meeting didn’t go exactly as planned. “We were both waiting by the gates to be taken in, and she thought I was the chaperone! I was like, ‘No, I’m playing your daughter…’ and she went, ‘Oh!’ and just laughed! So that was how we first met.”
Despite the awkward start, the encounter helped calm her nerves as she prepared to join the long-running soap. She admitted she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety stepping into the role, having grown up watching the show herself.
“I was really excited to meet everyone, but also super nervous because I’d grown up watching EastEnders. I’d seen all of them on TV, so it was that strange feeling of knowing them even though they had no idea who I was.”
The magnitude of the role didn’t fully hit her until she stepped into the makeup room and came face-to-face with a soap legend. “I remember walking into the makeup room and seeing June Brown sitting there.”
She explained that everything had happened so quickly after landing the part that it barely felt real at first. “The whole process from getting the job to that first day went so fast, especially after months of auditions, so it didn’t really sink in until that moment!”
Watching the late actress getting ready for the day’s filming made it all feel real. “Seeing her in the chair, putting on her wig, I just thought, ‘Okay, this is really happening now.’”
Although she didn’t speak to her, the encounter left a lasting impression. “It was exciting. I didn’t actually talk to her, just smiled… but yeah, I was definitely excited… and very nervous.”
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