EASTENDERS’ actress Laurie Brett who played Ian Beale’s long suffering wife looks unrecognisable since leaving the BBC show.
Laurie, 53, who was best known for her role in the soap as Jane Beale, shocked fans when she posted a couple of pictures of herself looking distinctly different to when she was on the soap.
In one snap, Jane cut a more casual appearance with her mousy blonde hair tied up in a bun, teamed with black bug-eye sunglasses, as she holidayed in Gran Canaria.
Laurie captioned the photo saying: “My first break in 4 years… I’m going OUT.”
The mum of one made her first appearance on Albert Square in June 2004 and remained a constant feature on the soap until 2017.
In another picture, Laurie is sat in what appears to be a poorly lit room, wearing red rimmed reading glasses looking up at the camera. In this pic she captioned the post by saying: “Friday feeling”
But playing Jane Beale was no easy feat as viewers will remember her being in the middle of a few heavy plot lines.
One memorable plot was when Ian’s son Bobby, who he had from a previous relationship with Laura Beale, attacked Jane with a hockey stick.
In the gruesomely shocking episode, viewers saw Jane being bludgeoned by her adopted son Bobby, next her homemade wedding cake.
But it didn’t end there. Jane was then embroiled in the murder of Ian’s daughter Lucy Beale, as she helped Bobby cover up his involvement in the murder.
Bobby attacked Lucy with a music box and after finally admitting to Lucy’s murder, Jane helped Bobby move the body. Jane removed Lucy from the family home to Walford Common, where she was later found.
Desperate to start a new life Jane leaves with Bobby in the usual way – in a back of a taxi.
Since leaving Eastenders Jane has starred in C4’s crime drama Deadwater Fell and BBC drama Shetland.
