# Linda Henry

Linda Valiris (née Henry; born 24 August 1959) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV prison drama series Bad Girls and Shirley Carter in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She had previously appeared in EastEnders as the original Lorraine Salter, the mother of Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton), from 1991 to 1992. Her other acting credits include Cracker (1995), Prime Suspect (1997) and Trial & Retribution (1998). She has also appeared in the films Beautiful Thing (1996) and The Business (2005).

## Early life

Henry was born on 24 August 1959 and was brought up in Peckham, London. She spent some time with the Old Vic Youth Theatre, and at 17, she went to the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

## Career

In 1996, Henry played Sandra in the film Beautiful Thing. In 1999, Henry began portraying Yvonne Atkins in the ITV prison series Bad Girls. After departing from the series in 2003, she appeared in various British television programmes including The Bill, Birds of a Feather, Touching Evil, Cracker, A Touch of Frost, Trial & Retribution as Marilyn Spark and EastEnders, where she played Lorraine Salter, the mother of Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton). She also appeared in British film The Business, alongside Danny Dyer.
On 8 September 2006, it was announced Henry would be returning to EastEnders in a different role, this time playing Shirley Carter, mother to Carly (Kellie Shirley) and Deano (Matt Di Angelo) and ex-wife of Kevin (Phil Daniels). Dyer, who she had worked with previously, was cast in 2013 as Henry's son, Mick. In late 2022, Henry embarked on an "extended break" from EastEnders. Henry is expected to return at some point; however, as of January 2025, it is unknown when, or even whether, she will return.

## Personal life

Henry married Stavros Valiris in 1992. Their daughter was born in 1993.
In 2014, she was arrested for racially aggravated harassment. Henry pleaded not guilty and stood trial on 11 February 2015 at Bexley Magistrates' Court in south London. She was later cleared of all charges.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | The Young Ones | Girl at party | Episode: "Interesting" |
| 1988 | Rockliffe's Babies | Sharon Hagerty | Episode: "A Trip to the Zoo" |
| 1988 | Screen Two | |
| 1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... | Jackie | |
| 1988 | For Queen & Country | Kim | |
| 1988–1990 | Eurocops | Linda Jackson | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | Forever Green | Doc | Series 1 Episode 4 |
| 1989 | The Nineteenth Hole | Council tenant | Series 1 Episode 7 |
| 1990 | The Play on One | Carol Fairwater | Episode: "Yellowbacks" |
| 1990 | Birds of a Feather | Viv McCarthy | Episode: "Falling in Love Again" |
| 1991–1992 | EastEnders | Lorraine Salter | Guest role |
| 1992 | The Bill | Carol Armfield | Episode: "Part of the Furniture" |
| 1993 | Don't Leave Me This Way | Janet Weir | |
| 1993 | Cracker | Mrs. Perry | Episode: "One Day a Lemming Will Fly Part 1" |
| 1993 | The Bill | Anne Riley | Episode: "Desperate Remedies" |
| 1994 | Moving Story | Sheila Roebuck | Episode: "Charlotte, Emma, Bamber and Anne" |
| 1994 | Casualty | Diane Daw | Episode: "Blood's Thicker" |
| 1995 | Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness | Forensic Scientist | Television film |
| 1995 | An Independent Man | Julie Read | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | The Bill | Chrissie Root | Episode: "For Services Rendered" |
| 1996 | A Touch of Frost | Sue Venables | Episode: "Playing the Price" |
| 1996 | Beautiful Thing | Sandra Gangel | |
| 1997 | Touching Evil | Justine Barber | Episode: "Deadly Web: Part 2" |
| 1997 | Born to Run | Judith | Series 1 Episode 3 |
| 1998 | Trial & Retribution | Marilyn Spark | 2 episodes |
| 1999–2003 | Bad Girls | Yvonne Atkins | Main role |
| 2005 | The Business | Shirley | |
| 2006–2022 | EastEnders | Shirley Carter | Regular role |
| 2008 | Children in Need | Housemaid | Episode #1.29 |
| 2010 | EastEnders: E20 | Shirley Carter | 5 episodes |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2003 | 9th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actress | Bad Girls | Nominated |
| 2007 | TVQuick & TVChoice Awards | Best Soap Newcomer | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2008 | Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with Cheryl Fergison) | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2008 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with Fergison) | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2009 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2012 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | EastEnders | Shortlisted |
| 2013 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2014 | 2014 British Soap Awards | Best Comedy Performance | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2015 | 20th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | EastEnders | Nominated |
| 2022 | 2022 British Soap Awards | Best Leading Performer | EastEnders | Shortlisted |