Charlie Brooks | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Ware, Hertfordshire, England | 3 May 1981
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1995–present |
Known for | Role of Janine Butcher in EastEnders |
Children | 1 |
Charlene Emma Brooks (born 3 May 1981) [2] is an English actress, known for her role of Janine Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders . Brooks has also appeared in British television shows The Bill , Wired and Bleak House , as well as portraying Anna Fallmont in the Network 10 drama Lie With Me .
Brooks has also won the reality shows Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! .
Brooks was born in 1981, in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, and moved to Barmouth, Gwynedd when she was a child. [3] Brooks attended Tower House School, in Barmouth, and relocated to London to attend Ravenscourt Theatre School, Hammersmith. [3]
On television, Brooks has appeared in episodes of The Bill , London's Burning , Jonathan Creek and The Demon Headmaster . [3] [4]
After her departure from EastEnders in 2004, Brooks's first role was in the BBC drama Bleak House as Jenny. Brooks has appeared in commercials and voiceovers in the United Kingdom, Europe and the US. [5]
In 2006, Brooks played Beverley Allitt in a BBC1 docu-drama entitled Beverley Allitt: Angel of Death, alongside Ian Kelsey. Producer Cathy Elliot said: "It's a very sensitive issue and of course it's terrible for the parents to have the whole thing brought up. Each time it's brought up it's painful, but a lot of parents realise it's important it's kept in the public domain and that people are aware that things have happened and that not a lot has been done since". [6]
She has guest starred in Robin Hood and Love Soup . [7] In theatre, Brooks, whilst on a break from EastEnders in 2003, appeared in the play Office Games alongside Adam Rickitt. [8] The play was Brooks' West End debut, and described as "a witty and intelligent political commentary". [8] In 2007, she appeared in Our Country's Good at the Liverpool Playhouse. [9]
When executive producer Matthew Robinson re-introduced the character of Janine Butcher in 1999, after Alexia Demetriou left, Brooks secured the role. [5] [10] Brooks remained in the role until May 2004.
In April 2008, Brooks returned to EastEnders for a guest stint. She was later confirmed to be coming back as a regular character. [11] She said, "I had doubts to begin with, mainly because of Kiki [her daughter], as I know how full-on EastEnders can be, and then there's that stigma about going back to a soap. But I'm so pleased I did, it was the right decision. Especially with what's going on at the moment, I feel really lucky to have a job and I need the security because of Kiki. I was just going to go back for a year, but I had a meeting with the boss last week and we're going to go for another year. So lots more time to get up to much mischief". [12] [13] Executive producer Diederick Santer said, "I couldn't be more pleased that Charlie Brooks is re-joining EastEnders. With her appearances last month, she reminded us what a fine actress she is, and what an intriguing, watchable and engaging character she plays as Janine". [11] She temporarily departed in September 2012, and returned in April 2013 before departing again in March 2014.
In April 2021, it was announced that Brooks had agreed to reprise the role once again for a "huge storyline" and would return later in the year. [14] She made her on-screen return in September 2021. Brooks appeared in her 1,000th episode as Janine on 10 February 2022.
In January 2019, it was announced that Alex Oates's play All in a Row , starring Brooks as Tamora, the mother, was going to be produced by Paul Virides Productions at the Southwark Playhouse. [15] The play is based on Oates' ten years of experience caring for severely autistic children and adults, and won the Top Five Play Reading at the Bolton Octagon. [16] The play is about the parents of a profoundly autistic eleven-year-old boy and how they are feeling the night before he is taken to a residential school, when social services feel he needs more support than can be given in their family home. [17]
Criticisms of the play started to emerge when a video trailer for the production was released showing the autistic character, Laurence, portrayed by a puppet. Journalist Frances Ryan, without having seen it, criticised the play by calling it a "grotesque step backwards". [18] The National Autistic Society, who initially decided to help the production by providing consultation, reacted to the Twitter furore by releasing a statement saying "while recognising some of the play's strengths, we decided we could not support the play overall due to its portrayal of autism, particularly the use of a puppet to depict the autistic character alone." [19]
Brooks responded by saying: "I understand people's concerns, but I do urge people to come and see the play first before they judge." She also claimed that having a puppet character is essential and that Laurence, the puppet, is very playful. During rehearsals, Brooks visited the Queensmill School for autistic children in Shepherd's Bush, talking to the pupils, their teachers and carers. Brooks concluded by stating: "This is a story that is rarely told. I just hope people will come and see it instead of sitting at home getting angry." [20]
She won I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2012, beating campmate Ashley Roberts. [21] [22]
Brooks also narrates Botched Up Bodies on Channel 5.
Her fitness DVD became the UK's best-selling fitness DVD release, and Brooks was transformed from "podgy Janine to a sexy new mum". [23]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | The Demon Headmaster | The Brains | 3 episodes |
Out of Tune | Carol | Main role; 7 episodes | |
1997 | The Bill | Miriam Olston | Episode: "A Place of Your Own" |
1998 | Turning Points | Emma | Unknown episodes |
1999–2004, 2008–2014, 2021–2022 | EastEnders | Janine Butcher | Regular role; 1,089 episodes |
1999 | The Bill | Claire Fellows | Episode: "Cold Calling" |
Pudding Lane | Janine Butcher | Television film | |
Jonathan Creek | Trudi | Episode: "The Omega Man" | |
2000 | London's Burning | Lisa | Series 12: Episode 1 |
2005 | The Golden Hour | Cara Wilson | Series 1: Episode 2 |
Bleak House | Jenny | Miniseries; 5 episodes | |
Angel of Death: The Beverly Allitt Story | Beverley Allitt | Television film | |
2006 | Take 3 Girls | Patsy | Film |
Casualty | Sally Montgomery | Episode: "Sons and Lovers" | |
2007 | Heartbeat | Julie Langley-Smythe | Episode: "Another Little Piece of My Heart" |
Robin Hood | Ceris | Episode: "Walkabout" | |
2008 | Love Soup | Denise | Episode: "Human Error" |
Wired | Anna | Miniseries; all 3 episodes | |
2010 | EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford | Janine Butcher | DVD release |
2011 | EastEnders: E20 | 3 episodes | |
Strictly Come Dancing (Christmas Special) | Herself (participant) | Winner | |
2012–2013 | Celebrity Juice | 4 episodes | |
2012 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here | Winner | |
2013–2014 | Botched Up Bodies | Narrator | Unknown episodes |
2014 | Suspects | Tanya | Episode: "Nobody Else: Part 1" |
2015 | The Dumping Ground | Stephanie Branston | Episode: "Law & Disorder Part One: Party Games" |
2016 | The Chase: Celebrity Special | Herself (participant) | Didn't appear in the final chase |
2018 | Moving On | Tina | Episode: "Neighbour" |
2020 | FOG | Rachel | Short film |
2021 | Lie With Me | Anna Fallmont | Miniseries; all 4 episodes |
2021–2022 | Richard Osman's House of Games | Herself (participant) | 10 episodes, including House of Champions |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2003 | Office Games | Rose Brown |
2004 | The Play What I Wrote | Rose |
2005–2006 | Dixon of Dock Green | Mary Dixon |
2006 | Dangerous Corner | Betty |
2007 | Our Country's Good | Dabby Bryant |
2013 | Dusty Won't Play | Dusty Springfield |
2014 | Beautiful Thing | Sandra Gangel |
2015 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Blanche |
2017 | How the Other Half Loves | Teresa |
2019 | All in a Row | Tamora |
2022–2023 | The Ocean at the End of the Lane (play) | Ursula / Skarthach |
Year | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Nominated |
The British Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated | |
2001 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won |
2002 | Nominated | ||
2003 | Nominated | ||
2004 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Actress | Nominated |
TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Won | |
Best Soap Storyline | Nominated | ||
The British Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Nominated | |
Villain of the Year | Won | ||
Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won | |
Best Actress | Nominated | ||
Best Soap Storyline | Nominated | ||
2005 | The British Soap Awards | Best Exit | Won |
2009 | All About Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won |
Inside Soap Awards | Won | ||
End of Year EastEnders Awards | Won | ||
2010 | All About Soap Awards | Femme Fatale | Won |
Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best Soap Bitch | Won | |
All About Soap Bubble Awards | Best Soap Love Triangle (Shared with Lacey Turner and Neil McDermott) | Nominated | |
2011 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated |
TV Times Awards | TV's Most Popular Bitch | Won | |
2012 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated |
Inside Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Won | |
DS Awards | DS Female Soap Actor | Won | |
2013 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated |
Inside Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Nominated | |
2014 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated |
Best Storyline – Hello Stacey, Goodbye Janine | Nominated | ||
2022 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Villain | Nominated |
I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Partnership (with Danny Dyer) | Nominated | |
Hannah Elizabeth Waterman is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Laura Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2000–2004).
Pat Evans is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She was played by Pam St Clement from 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired, until her departure on 1 January 2012. Pat was also portrayed by Emma Cooke in a soap 'bubble', Pat and Mo: Ashes to Ashes, delving into her past with sister-in-law Mo Harris, which aired in 2004. The character was killed-off on 1 January 2012, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her funeral was on 13 January 2012. Pat was one of the longest serving characters on the show, appearing for 25 years and six months. She returned, along with other women from Ian Beale's past, in a concussion-related dream sequence for a Children in Need special on 14 November 2014. She also made a return as a hallucination for Peggy Mitchell's death on 17 May 2016.
Janine Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, introduced in 1989. The character was played by Rebecca Michael from 1989 to 1993, Alexia Demetriou from 1993 to 1996, and Charlie Brooks from 1999 to 2022. Brooks initially departed on 7 May 2004. She returned for a three episode guest stint in April 2008 before returning permanently on 18 December of that year. Brooks later took a break from September 2012 until April 2013, then departed again on 20 March 2014. In April 2021, it was announced that Brooks would reprise the role once again and return later in the year. She returned on 6 September 2021. It was announced on 24 September 2022 that Brooks had only agreed to reprise the role for 12 months and would depart again at the conclusion of her storyline, with her final scenes airing on 26 December 2022. The character has been described as a "super-bitch" and a "classic villainess". She has proven popular with critics and fans of the show. Her storylines typically involve her in an antagonistic role. She has been married five times: to Barry Evans whom she killed on New Year's Day 2004, David, Ryan Malloy, Michael Moon and Mick Carter. Her feuds include a long-standing conflict with former stepmothers Pat Butcher and Peggy Mitchell, Sonia Fowler, Lynne Hobbs, Laura Beale, Kat Slater, Zoe Slater, Stacey Slater, Sharon Watts and Linda Carter. Her initial departure saw Janine being wrongfully charged for the death of Laura Beale. Upon her return, Janine is caught forging a wedding to a wealthy, old-age pensioner, that ends with her new husband abruptly dying of a fatal heart attack upon discovering her false identity. She later accidentally kills local resident Danielle Jones by running her down in her car; conspires with Peggy's husband Archie to defraud the Mitchell family from their ownership of The Queen Victoria public house; and becomes a prime suspect in Archie's murder investigation. Janine later becomes involved in a love triangle with her third husband Ryan and his baby's mother, Stacey. All of this results in Janine framing Stacey for her attempted murder and also attempting to kill Ryan by poisoning him. Janine later gives birth to a daughter, Scarlett, with her fourth husband Michael, and they become embroiled in a custody battle over Scarlett, which leads to Janine murdering Michael, leading to her third departure from the show.
Sid Owen is an English actor, television presenter and former singer, who played Ricky Butcher in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. He also appeared in the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing and made a cameo performance in the British cult show How Clean is Your House in 2005.
Laura Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Hannah Waterman. She first appeared on 17 February 2000 and became a regular on the programme until the character was killed off on 30 April 2004.
Ricky Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running male protagonists to feature in EastEnders. Owen originally left the role in 2000 to pursue a music career. However, he reprised the role in 2002 before being axed by producer Louise Berridge in 2004. In 2008, producer Diederick Santer introduced the character for a third time, along with his wife Bianca Jackson. Ricky is portrayed as unintelligent, simplistic, easily led and bossed around by dominant personalities. On 26 February 2011, it was announced that Owen would take a temporary break from the show. The character exited on 19 July 2011, returning five months later on 13 December 2011. Ricky left EastEnders on 17 January 2012. Ricky returned to EastEnders on 20 June 2012 for the wedding of his sister, Janine Butcher, before departing for the final time on 29 June 2012. In April 2016 he had voiced his interest in returning to EastEnders during an appearance on Celebrity Juice. He reprised his role as Ricky for an eight-week stint from 1 December 2022 to 26 January 2023.
Natalie Evans is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, between 18 January 1994 and 10 May 2004, played by Lucy Speed. Natalie first appeared in January 1994, depicted initially as an unhappy, insecure teenager; she was among various regular characters brought in to increase the cast following the BBC's decision to increase episode output to three per week. She featured most often with the characters Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson ; Natalie's affair with Ricky ending his relationship with Bianca was one of the prominent storylines aired in the Winter of 1995. Despite producers offering to extend Speed's contract, she opted to leave the serial in 1995.
Barry Evans is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Shaun Williamson. He first appeared in episode 1072, originally shown in the United Kingdom on 27 December 1994, and made his last appearance in episode 2653, originally shown on 2 January 2004. The character is portrayed as a "buffoon". Williamson controversially left the serial after nine years in 2003 after executive producer Louise Berridge refused to allow him time off to star in a seasonal pantomime, and the character was killed off.
Diane Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Lawrence. Diane appeared as a regular character between 1988 and 1991, when Lawrence decided to leave. The character made several brief returns in 1993, 1994, and 1997. In 2008, she returned for her father Frank Butcher's funeral, and on 20 June 2012 she returned for her sister Janine Butcher's wedding, departing on 29 June 2012.
Nicola Kathleen Stapleton is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in EastEnders as Mandy Salter and Emmerdale as Danielle Hutch. A graduate of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, Stapleton began her career at an early age, appearing in films such as Hansel and Gretel and on television in the children's show Simon and the Witch in 1987.
Sophie Lawrence is an English actress and singer. She played the role of Diane Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as a regular cast member from 1988 to 1991, making subsequent guest appearances in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2008 and 2012. In 1991, Lawrence achieved a top 30 hit in the UK single's chart with her cover of Donna Summer's hit single, "Love's Unkind". Since 2001, she has been most active on stage in musical theatre and pantomime.
Ryan Malloy is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Neil McDermott. From his arrival on 28 April 2009, the character remained a mystery in the show for a number of months, until he was revealed as the half-brother of established character, Whitney Dean. Ryan departed on 26 August 2011, and made a surprise guest appearance on 2 September 2014. Following his former lover, Stacey Slater, being sectioned in the episode that aired on 22 January 2016, he then made a surprise cameo for a short stint to look after his daughter Lily Slater, before departing again on 11 February 2016. Seven months later, Ryan returned on 20 September 2016 after he was released from prison. Ryan returned again on 4 November for Whitney and Lee Carter's wedding. On 28 January 2023, it was announced that Ryan would return to EastEnders for a brief stint in February. He returned on 13 February 2023 and departed once again on 16 February 2023.
Michael Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve John Shepherd. The character is a second cousin once removed of Alfie Moon, and first appears on 1 October 2010 after Alfie's return. He is also the father to Tommy Moon, whose mother is Alfie's wife Kat Moon. Michael is later joined by his father Eddie Moon and half brothers Tyler Moon and Anthony Moon.
Heather Jean Chasen was an English actress, known for her roles in soap operas; playing Valerie Pollard in the ITV soap opera, Crossroads, from 1982 to 1986 and guest roles in Doctors, Holby City and Family Affairs. Chasen also played many roles in BBC Radio 2's The Navy Lark from 1959 to 1977, and appeared in the television series Marked Personal from 1973 to 1974. She played the recurring role of Lydia Simmonds in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role which received positive reviews from critics and EastEnders crew and cast members. Furthermore, she appeared extensively in theatre productions and film; in 2012, she appeared in a film version of Les Misérables.
DCI Jill Marsden is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Stanton. She made her first appearance on 5 March 2001 investigating the shooting of Phil Mitchell, which was part of the whodunit storyline "Who Shot Phil?". Marsden returned in 2002, 2003 and 2009. She returned on 5 January 2012 for her third whodunit storyline, "Who's Stalking Phil?", departing four months later on 10 May 2012. Marsden returned for two episodes on 17 August 2012 to conclude the latter storyline. On 16 July 2015, she returned for part of the "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" whodunit storyline.
Lydia Simmonds is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, initially played by Margaret Tyzack and then by Heather Chasen. She is the maternal grandmother of Ricky and Janine Butcher. She made her debut on April 5, 2011, was portrayed by Tyzack, who left the show due to health reasons on April 13, and appeared as Lydia in three episodes before passing away on June 25, 2011. Chasen appeared in the role from 21 April. The character was killed-off and Chasen made her last appearance on 13 June 2011, and, though not credited for it, did a voice-over for the 14 June episode. Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood later said that Lydia's storyline was perfect and that Chasen made the part of Lydia her own.
Joey Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by David Witts. Introduced on 22 June 2012 by producer Bryan Kirkwood, Joey is the estranged son of established character Derek Branning and the brother of Alice Branning. Joey was featured in storylines such as a problematic relationship with his father due to his absence in his life, and a sexual relationship with his first cousin Lauren Branning. Joey and Lauren's relationship was one of the prominent storylines featured throughout 2012 and 2013. He also had relationships with Lucy Beale, Whitney Dean and Janine Butcher.
Alice Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jasmyn Banks. Alice is the daughter of Derek Branning. She made her first appearance on 10 May 2012. The character and casting was announced on 14 April 2012 with executive producer Lorraine Newman stating that Alice will allow the audience to see a softer side to Derek. Banks also stated that Alice will allow viewers to see a "lovely" side to Derek. The Daily Mirror praised the character for revealing herself as Derek's daughter on her first appearance, comparing her to Danielle Jones after she kept her identity to her mother Ronnie Mitchell a secret for months and then dying minutes after revealing herself. Another critic from the Daily Mirror said that Alice has had a "colossal impact" on Derek. In September 2013, it was announced that Banks would be leaving the show as part of Michael Moon's exit storyline. She departed on 24 December 2013, after being wrongly arrested for Michael's murder.
All in a Row Live is a play by Alex Oates about a family with an 11-year-old child on the autism spectrum. The play explores the experiences of the parents of a nonverbal, sometimes violent, autistic boy and the emotions that they experience on the night before he is taken to a residential school for children with disabilities.