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EastEnders’ Karen Taylor looks unrecognisable at British Soap Awards

One amazed fan said actress Lorraine Stanley "scrubs up well!"

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We’re used to seeing her with no make-up and a messy bun, wearing a vest top with her bra strap hanging down as she plays Karen Taylor in EastEnders.

So viewers were stunned when they saw how actress Lorraine Stanley looks in real life at the British Soap Awards.

The 41-year-old looked a far cry from the Walford single mum as she hit the red carpet in a glittery black dress and gold heels.

Lorraine Stanley, AKA Karen Taylor looked glam at the British Soap Awards in a black dress and gold heels (Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com)

She wore her blonde hair down in waves with a fringe and had glam smokey-eye make-up.

Many EastEnders fans said they didn’t recognise the star because she looked so different to her Albert Square character.

“Wow! Her who plays Karen Taylor in #Eastenders looks so different in real life. She scrubs up well,” wrote one on Twitter.

The actress wore her blonde hair down and smokey-eye make-up (Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com)

“Didn’t recognise Karen then!” said another.

“How different does Karen of Eastenders look”, wrote a third.

A fourth agreed stating: “Lady who plays Karen in #Eastenders looks SO different in real life!”

Lorraine has previously spoken about how her style is very different to her character’s – whose look she honed by being lazy!

“My bra straps are always coming down so when they did for the character, I just left them!” she told Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning recently.

“My look is completely different,” she added.

Lorraine was joined on the red carpet by her on-screen daughter, Bernadette, played by Clair Norris (Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com)

Asked how long it takes her to get ready for filming, Lorraine replied, “about a minute!”

“I don’t have any make-up and I just get my bun checked so it’s easy!” she said.

Read more: British Soap Awards: Winners list in full!

It no doubt took her longer to get ready on Saturday night for the star-studded ceremony at the Hackney Empire.

Lorraine was joined on the red carpet by her on-screen daughter, Bernadette, played by Clair Norris.

Lorraine Stanley tweet at British Soap Awards
Lorraine tweeted a selfie with her on-screen family from the ceremony, where she won Best Newcomer (Credit: Twitter)

She also looked nothing like her EastEnders character, who is usually seen dressed down in a tracksuit or in her school uniform. The 20-year-old wore a blue lacy dress with heels and flattering make-up.

Inside the venue, the pair were joined by more of their on-screen family, sitting with Zack Morris who plays Keegan, and Danny Walters who plays Keanu.

Lorraine tweeted a selfie of them all looking excited before the ceremony captioned: “Let’s be avin ya!!!”

They had cause to celebrate later in the evening as Lorraine picked up the gong for Best Newcomer.

The actress said she was delighted to be given the accolade after viewers have taken the Taylors into their hearts after they arrived on Albert Square last year.

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She later tweeted to apologise for not personally thanking her co-stars though!

“So annoyed at myself for not thanking the Taylor family!! @clair_norris_ @_Zack_Morris @DannyWalters_ Tom and Alfie, please forgive me, I was so nervous, but you know I love you to bits, we laugh everyday, thank you!!” she wrote.

Well done on your award Lorraine!

Do you think Lorraine deserved to win Best Newcomer as Karen Taylor? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!

Nancy Brown
Associate Editor