Luisa Bradshaw-White has revealed ‘EastEnders’ bosses created the character of Tina Carter for her.
The 45-year-old actress – who has played the part since 2013 – has opened up how she landed a role on Albert Square, and the influence she had on shaping her soap alter ego.
In scenes airing on tonight’s (24.08.20) episode of ‘Secrets From The Square’, she said: ‘I was doing ‘Holby [City]’ here [at Elstree], and I left to have my kids.
‘And I decided I wanted to come back here. It’s near where I live, I love the studio. I did Grange Hill here for a lot of years as well.
‘I thought I want to do a long-running drama so that I don’t have to be the actor that’s always out of work. I got called to go in for a part, and when I read the breakdown, I was nothing like it.
"So I thought, ‘I’m just going to go in and be myself’. So I sort of went in, and I just said: ‘Look, I know I’m not going to fit this, but I thought maybe you could find me another part?’
"And I got on so well with Dom Treadwell-Collins — who was the exec — and we just sat there and sort of created a new part! It was Shirley’s sister, and they offered me the job."
Luisa has opened up for the BBC spin-off show, which is hosted by Stacey Dooley and has been on air since June, when the main soap went off air due to the programme running out of episodes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The behind-the-scenes programme is to come to an end in two weeks, and now the Beeb has confirmed details for the final episodes.
While there won’t be an episode on August 31, due to the Bank Holiday, the following night will see Natalie Cassidy and Shona McGarty recapping the most memorable moments as their respective characters Sonia Fowler and Whitney Dean.
On September 3, Kat Moon and Stacey Slater stars Jessie Wallace and Lacey Turner will discuss their on-screen family.
Finally, on September 4 fans will be treated to a special compilation edition featuring previously unseen interviews and clips from across the whole series.
Then, on September 7 viewers will be treated to new episodes of the soap itself.