Laila Morse has ruled out ever returning to ‘EastEnders’ “full-time”.
Laila Morse has revealed she will not return to EastEnders full-time
The 76-year-old actress wants to focus on new adventures - like riding a motorbike and travelling - but would go back to Albert Square for “a one-off thing” or certain plotline involving 'Big' Mo Harris, a character she has played since 2000.
Laila's latest stint on the BBC One soap lasted from 2018 to 2021.
In an interview with the Metro newspaper, she said: “I left in April. If they wanted me to go back for a one-off thing or a storyline lasting a couple of weeks I would but I wouldn’t go back full-time. I’m a bit too old for that. I want to do other things whether that’s travelling somewhere or riding around a country on a bike. I wouldn’t even mind learning how to ride a motorbike if somebody wants to teach me.”
The former ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ star admitted to missing the cast and crew but not the “trek” of a commute.
She said: “I miss playing Mo and I miss the people but I don’t miss the travelling there and the long journey home again at night - it was a bit of a trek. I keep in touch with Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) and Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) - I’ll give them a ring - and I’m still in touch with Derek Martin, who played my son-in-law Charlie Slater. We talk quite a bit.”
Laila - whose brother is actor Gary Oldman - also admitted that she does shares some personality traits with her character ‘Big’ Mo in real-life.
She said: "I suppose we are a bit, family-wise. I wouldn’t let anyone take liberties with the family. She can stand her ground and I can too. I wouldn’t copy her dodgy dealings but I wouldn’t say no if something came my way and I liked it!"
Laila will soon be seen stripping off to raise awareness of cancer in ITV show 'Strictly The Real Full Monty’.
She is joined on the programme - which will air on December 13 and December 14 - by former 'Love Island' star Demi Jones, Blue singer Duncan James, model Christine McGuinness and former 'Strictly Come Dancing' pros, husband and wife duo James and Ola Jordan among others.
When asked what was next in her career, Laila revealed that she was focused on enjoying Christmas and will wait until 2022 to begin contemplating new projects.
She said: "I’ll wait until Christmas is over - that’s bad enough, isn’t it? Out buying presents and this, that and the other. So I’ll wait until the new year. Then I’ll get my thinking cap on and see what pages turn on the book."
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