Barbara Windsor's touching advice which inspired EastEnders star's career move
Former EastEnders favourite Shona McGarty is stepping into a new chapter of her career, and says the late Dame Barbara Windsor would have been behind her every step of the way. During an appearance on Lorraine this morning (June 4), Shona spoke about her upcoming role in Bettie Page, Queen of Pin-Ups – The Musical.
Ranvir Singh pointed out the striking similarities between Barbara's glamorous EastEnders character and Shona's new part, saying: "It's funny, of course, we think of Babs, and we think of the role you're about to play now. There are some similarities there – of being the pin-up, being brave, owning your sexuality."
Shona admitted that the legendary actress had always been one of her biggest supporters, adding: "I know that Barbara Windsor would have been so proud of me taking on this role. She always said to me, because I'm short and I'm curvy, she always said I should do burlesque. So I know she'd be proud."
In Shona's upcoming West End venture she will play American model Bettie Page in a new biography-musical that audiences can come see from June 9.
The show will run for one night only at London's Lyric Theatre and promises to delve into the life of the 1950s icon, through the medium of original songs and hits from the 50s and 60s. It will explore Bettie's rise to fame and her impact on pop culture and feminism.
Shona is best known for playing Whitney Dean in EastEnders ever since she joined the soap at the age of 16. She left the BBC series in April last year after 16 years on set.
This marked the end of an era where Whitney faced many emotional storylines, tackling serious issues like grooming, domestic abuse, and pregnancy loss. Shona was praised for her sensitive portrayal of the character throughout these hard-hitting topics.
Since leaving Albert Square, Shona has kept herself busy exploring other avenues of entertainment. She has spent time in the recording studio, performed live music, and even presented an award at the Beauty Awards in November. Some of the singles she has released include A Change is Gonna Come, Rock with Rudolph, and Let It Be.
After her soap exit, Shona told The Sun that it was difficult to leave EastEnders, but she felt like it was the right decision. The actress shared: "It was a really difficult decision because it's all I've ever known. I pretty much grew up on the Square, so I feel like I'm leaving home.
"But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short, and you feel that more and more as you get older. There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old! All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The $6.90 item from Coles shoppers can't get enough of - and it's a go-to for one of Australia's top athletes
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A $6.90 item from Coles has taken 'girl dinner' and 'grazing boards' to the next level - and it might just change how you eat healthily. Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites have been flying off shelves across Australia, with shoppers creating epic 'protein boards' at home, filled with a variety of ingredients. Perfect for health-conscious shoppers with active, busy lifestyles, these light and fluffy protein bites are high in protein and fibre, gluten-free, super delicious - and may help keep you fuller for longer. Made with 100 per cent Australian Free Range eggs, the range features two new flavours: Bacon & Cheese and Tomato & Mozzarella. Jumping on the viral protein board trend, AFL star Tom Mitchell is leading the charge, revealing his go-to dinner after a late-night training session. 'As an athlete, what I eat really matters. I need food that fuels me fast. My go-to dinner is what I call a protein board... And it's never quite complete without the new Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites,' the Collingwood premiership hero said. 'They're a game changer and they taste unreal... So good.' What the Brownlow medallist loves most about the flavour-packed protein bites is that each bag contains a serving of just 27g of protein, 17g of carbs and 381 calories. Bacon & Cheese Protein Bites Light & fluffy egg bites packed with protein and low in carbs - perfect for breakfast on the go. Bursting with flavour, they are baked not fried, making them the perfect choice to supercharge your meal. $6.90 Shop Tomato & Mozzarella Protein Bites Made with 100% Australian Free Range eggs, create an easy and delicious protein-packed meal filled with Sunny Queen Protein Bites and your favourite toppings. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. $6.90 Shop 'They make prioritising protein easy,' Mitchell said. The Collingwood midfielder usually prepares the protein bites in the air fryer, which typically takes just 10-12 minutes to bake. His protein board showcases Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites, accompanied by cottage cheese, cucumber, carrots, strawberries, blueberries, yoghurt and brown bread. 'Short on time? Why cook, when you can create a protein board,' Mitchell said. 'They're super quick and easy to prepare, which is perfect for busy days.' It's the one supermarket item he always stocks up on from the frozen healthy meals section every time he shops at Coles. Protein boards are the latest obsession - a high-protein upgrade to the viral 'girl dinner', a social media trend where people throw together snack plates with minimal cooking, usually using whatever's left in the fridge or pantry. Aussies have been making their own protein boards at home - using up their favourite ingredients, including the hero Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites. Known as the only egg-based protein bites on the Aussie market, they are baked not fried, making them the perfect healthy choice to fuel your day, whether you're training like an athlete or looking to boost your daily protein intake. Not only are they packed with goodness but they're also tasty - which is rare for healthy options that can sometimes be bland. Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites are bursting with flavours, and they might just change the way you eat eggs forever. Shoppers who've tried the new protein bites say they're a favourite for post-gym refuelling or a quick midweek meal on rotation. 'Yum, these are delicious,' one said. 'Best pick for protein boost,' another shared. 'Deliciously healthy... the perfect way to look after your body and your mind.. no compromise anymore,' one explained. 'They are literally pockets of goodness,' another revealed. 'PSA: For time-poor snackers that need more protein, I highly recommend these,' one fan added. From a protein board or a pre/post-gym snack to a salad topping or wrapped in a tortilla, the possibilities are endless - just heat, eat and repeat Nutritionist Michelle, who has lost 25kg so far, said the Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites are her favourite go-to snack - especially during her weight loss journey. Meanwhile, many said they couldn't wait to add Sunny Queen Farms Protein Bites to their shopping carts. 'OMG I need them all,' one said. 'Will be trying these for sure,' another revealed. 'Yum! I definitely need to try this,' one shared. The protein bites are best enjoyed however you like, whether it's for breakfast, lunch, snack or even as dinner. From a protein board or a pre/post-gym snack to a salad topping or wrapped in a tortilla, the possibilities are endless - just heat, eat and repeat. To buy Sunny Queen Farm Protein Bites, click here.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Julio Torres: Color Theories review – prismatic brilliance from comedy's most vibrant absurdist
Fans of the former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres know him to be the current torchbearer of Izzardian absurdism. Whether on television (Los Espookys, Fantasmas), in cinema (Problemista) or in his children's book about an aspirational toilet plunger (I Want to Be a Vase), his is a world where inanimate objects are sentient and diversity thrives in defiance of the corporate. In Color Theories, the charismatic Salvadoran American comic reveals another string to his bow: 'I'm sent all over the world to find colours,' he confides, daring us to doubt him. Like his previous show, My Favourite Shapes, this is an hour of sit-down comedy aided by an overhead camera which relays Torres's theories – illustrated with crayon squiggles – on to a screen behind him. Sporting a copper-coloured pixie cut and a pair of pink feather antlers, Torres himself resembles a child's doodle. His inquisitive mind produces interconnected ideas about Catholicism, the blandness of Pixar and what orange sounds like, while his insights train us to spot 'highly purple behaviour'. His casual millennial delivery, peppered with 'um's and 'ah's, makes surreal concepts sound like items on a brunch menu. Avoiding standard associations (such as green for envy) or obvious jibes (there is no mention of the US president's orange hue), Torres uses colour to explain everything from tax avoidance to superhero vigilantism – his sage advice to Batman made that bit funnier by addressing him as 'hun'. The anticapitalist, nonconformist philosophy that runs through all of Torres's work is present, and deftly integrated. Weak material, such as underdeveloped observations on the animal kingdom, is in the minority. Phrasing, as ever, is immaculate: Torres defines words as 'the jobs that letters are hired to do'. Though he may have failed so far in his colour-scouting mission (he hasn't yet found a new one, he admits), this hour leaves you tickled pink. At Soho theatre, London, until 16 August.
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Time Out
Snoop Dogg to headline the pre-game entertainment at this year's AFL Grand Final
Was Snoop Dogg performing at the MCG on Grand Final Day on your bingo card for 2025? It certainly wasn't on ours, but hey, we're not mad about it! In one of the most unexpected pairings of the year, the legendary American rapper – best known for hits like 'Drop It Like It's Hot', 'Young, Wild and Free' and 'Gin and Juice' – is headlining the pre-game entertainment on the biggest day of the AFL calendar. Yep, the D. O. Double G himself will take to the 'G on September 27, to hype up the crowds before the teams run onto the ground. It will be his first-ever live appearance at the famous stadium, and if his performance at the 2022 Super Bowl LVI is anything to go by (he shared the stage with Dr Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar in what's widely considered one of the best halftime shows ever), we're in for a treat. The Snoop Dogg reveal comes off the back of a string of big-name international acts starring as entertainment on AFL Grand Final Day, with Katy Perry wowing the crowd last year, while Robbie Williams, Kiss and The Killers have also all featured on the line-up. 'It's an absolute honour to be hitting the stage at the AFL Grand Final,' said Snoop Dogg. 'It's one of the biggest events on the Aussie calendar. Can't wait to bring the energy and celebrate with the fans. Let's make it unforgettable.' Snoop Dogg's last tour of Australia was in 2023, when he played two shows at Rod Laver Arena. The rapper, producer and actor is regarded as one of the most influential rap artists of all time, with a career spanning more than three decades. While tickets for the AFL Grand Final are notoriously hard to get your hands on, you can win your way in via this money-can't-buy-competition run by CUB. The exclusive experience includes a sleepover at the 'G on Grand Final Eve, plus tickets to the big game – so you'll be able to see Snoop do his thing from the comfort of your own private hospitality suite. So, will the Bulldogs make the Grand Final? On Snoop Dogg's behalf, that's what we're hoping for! The AFL Grand Final will kick off at 2.30pm on Saturday, September 27.
