A year after being written out of EastEnders, Lorraine Stanley has revealed she has lost an astonishing seven stone following weight-loss surgery — admitting she genuinely feared for her life at her heaviest.
The actress, 49, best known for playing Karen Taylor for seven years, confessed she became terrified she would suffer a heart attack after watching her family endure serious health scares. Her father died from a heart attack, while her mother has undergone heart bypass surgery.
Lorraine explained that her size spiralled while she was working on the BBC soap, admitting the steady pay cheques played a role. She joked that having too much money meant she was eating out constantly, adding that not working now actually helps because she no longer has the funds to indulge every day.
After undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure — which removes around 75 to 80 per cent of the stomach — Lorraine has dramatically transformed her body. She has proudly shared her new figure online, even slipping into a thong bikini for the first time in 20 years.
Speaking candidly, Lorraine admitted she does have regrets about going under the knife. She said that, in hindsight, she sometimes wishes she had tried to lose the weight through diet and exercise alone, explaining that emotional eating could still cause the weight to return if she isn’t in a good place mentally.
Before opting for surgery, Lorraine revealed she had tried weight-loss injections, including Wegovy, but said they didn’t work long-term for her. Although she initially lost two stone, the weight piled straight back on once she stopped.
Despite her incredible transformation, the BBC star admitted she still lives with the fear that her stomach could stretch again and the weight could return. However, the positives have been life-changing — she can now run around with her young daughter without getting out of breath and feels more confident than ever.
Lorraine recently married her long-term partner Mark Perez, and revealed she even wore a thong bikini on their honeymoon. She laughed that instead of covering up, she now struts around with confidence, comparing herself to Madonna.
Previously, Lorraine described the surgery as the best decision she’s ever made, saying she paid a huge amount at a London clinic but believes it was worth it for both her and her family.
As part of her wider lifestyle overhaul, Lorraine also gave up alcohol last year, proudly sharing that she was five months sober while still enjoying nights out dancing. Since leaving EastEnders, she admitted she once watched herself back on screen and could barely look at herself — a moment that pushed her to change her life completely.
