EastEnders’ original Elaine Peacock was played by Maria Friedman, but what fans might not know, is that the actress also has a link to Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.
Maria, 63, played the role of Elaine from 2014 to 2017 and throughout her time on the hit BBC soap appeared in over 50 episodes. The character made her debut on Albert Square when Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) asked her to find out why her daughter Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) was behaving oddly.
After her role in EastEnders, Maria continued her successful career in theatre productions including directing a show starring Daniel Radcliffe. The 63 year old has also won Best Actress in a Musical award twice after her roles in Passion and Ragtime – let’s take a closer look at Maria’s star-studded career…
Former EastEnders star Maria Friedman has led a hugely successful career in TV and theatre
(Image: Getty Images)
Who is Maria Friedman?
During the character’s first stint on the soap, Elaine was played by Maria Friedman from 2014 to 2017. Throughout her time on the show, Maria appeared in over 50 episodes.
Now aged 63, Maria is a renowned actress and director for both TV and theatre. She is best known for her numerous works in musical theatre, directing shows that would run on the West End.
Maria directed Merrily We Roll Along which stars Daniel Radcliffe
(Image: Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Director Maria Friedman during the opening night for Merrily We Roll Along
(Image: Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
One of which includes the musical Merrily We Roll Along which was transferred to Broadway in 2023 with Maria as the director. This saw Maria work alongside Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe who played the role of Charley Kringas.
Maria has also been a star of on-stage productions since 1989, bagging roles in shows such as Sweeney Todd and Chicago, to name a few. But despite her success on the stage, she is also well-known on TV, having made cameos including Casualty, Red Dwarf and Unforgotten.
Who is EastEnders’ Elaine Peacock?
Elaine Peacock first appeared on EastEnders in 2014 when Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, asked her to find out why Linda was behaving oddly. Linda eventually confided in her mum about her horrific rape after her brother-in-law Dean Wicks attacked her.
Elaine Peacock first appeared on EastEnders in 2014 when Mick Carter asked her to find out what was wrong with Linda
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)
Elaine Peacock has been caught up in her fair share of dramatic storylines
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)
After Mick and Linda’s wedding, Elaine stayed with the Carters. She also provided support when their son Ollie had a serious car accident that could have caused severe brain damage.
However, in 2016, things changed for Elaine when Linda found out that her widowed mother had suffered a stroke. Linda decided to leave the Square to run her own pub and take care of her mum.
Maria played the role of Elaine Peacock from 2014 to 2017
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)
During this time, Linda was diagnosed with cervical cancer and stayed with her mum – pretending that Elaine was still ill, whilst she continued to secretly receive treatment. Since then, Elaine had not been seen on-screen, with her last public appearance on the soap being in 2017, until she returned this year played by Harriet Thorpe.
Who plays Elaine Peacock now?
Elaine made her explosive return to the soap earlier this year but left fans scratching their heads as she looked nothing like her former character. This is because actress Harriet Thorpe took on the role from Maria Friedman.
Harriet Thorpe took over the role of Elaine Peacock this year
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Harriet, 65, is a successful actress in her own right, having starred in a number of big shows. Her biggest claim to fame is playing the role of Fleur in the BBC comedy show Absolutely Fabulous alongside co-stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley from 1992 to 2012.
In addition to this, Harriet has made appearances in other well-known shows such as Father Brown and The Bill. She also has made cameos in movies including Calendar Girls in 2003, where she took on the role of Brenda Mooney.
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