Harriet Thorpe might not be the first actress to play Elaine Peacock in EastEnders, but she has certainly made the role her own.
She has starred in many different hit television shows and movies, from French and Saunders to The Brittas Empire.
However, she’s not the only talented member of her family, with both of her parents enjoying acclaimed careers, along with her sister Matilda and her son - who previously worked as an actor.
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Childhood
Harriet was born on 8 June 1957, making her 67 years old. She is originally from Hampstead in London, England.
She is the daughter of Gillian Freeman, a writer who penned The Leather Boys, and Edward Thorpe, an actor, novelist and the ballet critic of the Evening Standard.
Harriet has a younger sister who is also an actress. Her sister Matilda Thorpe previously starred on EastEnders and played Rachel Ford back in 1998.
She is best known for her role as Mandy Mosgrove in Desmond's from 1989 to 1994, with her later starring in Sick Note as Claire Glass, One Life as Nina and Back to Black as Auntie Melody.
Harriet previously opened up about her childhood and how she relocated to Los Angeles with her family.
“My sister and I, who is also an actress, Matilda Thorpe, were little children at a normal state primary school,” she said on Loose Women. “Do you remember the food? It was all sort of grey? Memories!
“Suddenly I was in Beverly Hills and we went to school and they had an ice cream machine. They had pizza and chocolate milk!”
Career
Harriet studied dance at the Royal Ballet School and then went on to attend the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 1979.
She played Carole Parkinson in the 1990s show The Brittas Empire. She also worked with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders many times over the years, from starring in eight episodes of their programme French and Saunders between 1987 and 2003 to portraying Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous.
Harriet has held roles in Alexei Sayle's Stuff, A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Casualty, Material Girl, Midsomer Murders and The Bill.
She has also appeared in several films, including Calendar Girls, and she worked on stage extensively, with her acting in productions at the Royal National Theatre and in London's West End.
In 2023, she joined EastEnders as Elaine Peacock and was introduced as the mother of established character Linda Carter.
Family life
Harriet welcomed two children, a son and a daughter, with her husband Howard Baker, who she reportedly married in 1989.
Her son, Jack Thorpe-Baker, previously acted and starred in The Brittas Empire, Life is Sweet and Ballet Shoes, which also starred Emma Watson.
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