EastEnders star Tanya Franks has been a Walford legend for a number of years.
The 54-year-old actress joined the BBC One soap as Tanya Branning’s drug-addicted sister Lorraine “Rainie” Cross in 2007, appearing intermittently before being reintroduced a soap regular in 2018.
She has since been involved in a number of dramatic storylines, including her marriage to former brother-in-law Max Branning (Jake Wood) and her kidnapping of baby Abi Branning.
Off-screen, Tanya’s life is a lot more grounded, as the actress has carved out a successful career both on stage and on screen.
She has also been happily married to fellow actor James Barriscale for a number of years.
As Rainie gets accused of cheating on husband Stuart Highway (Ricky Champs) with his former pal Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), Daily Star has taken a look into Tanya’s life away from Walford.
Work life
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
Tanya began her telly career portraying Karen Ellis in the Channel 5 soap, Family Affairs.
Following a brief Holby City appearance, she joined ITV police drama The Bill as DI Morell in 2004.
Alongside her part-time EastEnders role, Tanya continued to act in several miniseries and short film projects for a number of years before landing the role as Lucy Stephens in the first two seasons of Broadchurch.
She later appeared in episodes of Chewing Gum and Silent Witness, before joining the BBC One soap full-time.
Famous husband
(Image: Getty Images)
Tanya’s husband James Barriscale is every bit the successful actor she is.
The 52-year-old also starred in The Bill as several different characters and appeared in EastEnders as a character called Jonathan Malnet in 2015.
He is perhaps best known for playing Desk Sergeant John Swift in WPC 56.
James has also starred in a number of Hollywood projects over the years, with bit roles in Terminator: Dark Fate, Netflix drama The Alienist and The Death of Stalin.
Walford future
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
Rainie is set for a rocky ride over the next few weeks after her husband Stuart suspects her of having an affair with Mick Carter.
Following the discovery that he is suffering from breast cancer, Stuart has understandably been struggling.
His emotions all over the place, he has moved between fear, upset and anger and it’s the latter he experiences in scenes to air this week.
Friday’s episode sees tension brew when it seems like Rainie is cheating on him with Mick.
With Rainie having felt pushed out by her husband, she has made it clear how unhappy she is with the situation.
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But Stuart soon puts two and two together and makes five in the Queen Vic when it seems that Rainie and Mick are closer than they actually are.
As his anger explodes, Stuart picks a fight with a bemused Mick but things get out of hand when Stuart refuses to accept the denial and punches Mick to the ground.
Rainie is horrified by what he has done, which only puts a further strain on the marriage.
But what Stuart needs is further support – will he come clean to his wife about his suffering?
EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on BBC One
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
