Laila Morse

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Laila Morse
Morse in 2009
Born
Maureen L Oldman

(1945-08-01) 1 August 1945 (age 78)
Dorking, Surrey, England
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
TelevisionEastEnders (2000–2016, 2018–2022, 2024–present)
Dancing on Ice (2012)
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2013)
Spouses
Gerald Bromfield
​
​
(m. 1963; div. 1970)​
James Bass
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 2003)​
Children2
RelativesGary Oldman (brother)

Maureen L Bass[1] (née Oldman; born 1 August 1945), better known by her stage name Laila Morse, is an English actress. After making her acting debut as Janet in the drama film Nil by Mouth (1997), she went on to join the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Mo Harris, a role she has played periodically since 2000.

Early life[edit]

Laila Morse was born Maureen L Oldman on 1 August 1945, to Leonard Bertram Oldman (1921–1985), a former sailor who also worked as a welder, and Kathleen (née Cheriton; 1919–2018).[2] Her younger brother is actor and filmmaker Gary Oldman.[3][4]

Career[edit]

Early work[edit]

At the age of 51, Morse made her professional acting debut as Janet in the 1997 film Nil by Mouth. The BAFTA winning film also marked the debut of her brother Gary, as a writer and director. Morse's performance as the matriarch won her the award of 'Most Promising Newcomer in any Category' at the British Independent Film Awards.[5]

Morse's television debut was as Janice Ryan in an episode of The Bill, which was followed by a regular role as Honky Mum in the BBC sitcom Honky Sausages, and the character Molly in the 1999 television production of Great Expectations.[6] In 2000, Morse played Laila in the film Love, Honour and Obey.

EastEnders[edit]

In September 2000, Morse made her first appearance as Mo Harris in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Introduced as the matriarch of the Slater family, her first scene in the soap was alongside Pam St Clement, who played Pat Butcher. A couple of weeks later, a television critic said that Morse had acted like "a lump of cardboard". Recalling the article, Morse replied: "I daresay he was right! I was bloody petrified." She admitted that it was only three years later that she started to feel comfortable on set.[7] Morse temporarily left EastEnders in January 2016, after appearing on a recurring basis since July 2012. In June 2017, Morse expressed interest in returning to EastEnders as she felt that she never "officially left". In December 2017, it was announced that Morse would be returning to the show to play Mo.[8] She returned in March 2018, after being re-introduced alongside Jean (Gillian Wright) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). In February 2021, it was announced that Morse would be departing the soap again, with the character's exit scenes airing in June 2021.[9] A year later, it was announced that Morse would reprise the role for a short stint later that year, with the character appearing in five episodes between August and September 2022.[10] In February 2024, it was announced that Morse would reprising the role on a permanent basis, following a storyline accommodating the return of Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier).[11][12]

Other work[edit]

In 2011, Morse made a return to film when she appeared as Aunt Queenie in the film Big Fat Gypsy Gangster, written, produced and starring Ricky Grover.[13] In December 2012, Morse made her pantomime debut as the Fairy in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk.[14]

In January 2012, Morse took part in the seventh series of ITV celebrity edition skating show Dancing on Ice. She was paired with Łukasz Różycki and they second were the second couple to be eliminated.[15]

Morse published her autobiography Just A Mo in 2013.[16] In November 2013, Morse participated in the thirteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was the second participant to be voted out of the series on 2 December.[17]

In June 2016, it was announced that she would be taking part in the BBC series of Celebrity Masterchef.[18] The series was won by Alexis Conran.[19]

In 2019, Morse appeared as an BPRD employee in Hellboy.[20] In 2021, it was announced that Morse was leaving EastEnders when her contract ended.[21]

In 2021, Morse took part in the ITV series Strictly the Real Full Monty, where she was partnered with Homes Under the Hammer presenter Martin Roberts. Morse was praised by viewers when she revealed her breast cancer scars.[22]

Personal life[edit]

Morse's stage name was suggested by the Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, who was dating Morse's brother, actor Gary Oldman. "Laila Morse" is an anagram of "mia sorella" which is Italian for "my sister".[23] Morse was married to Gerald Bromfield from 1963 to 1970 and they had two children, Gerry and Tracy Bromfield.[24] Morse married for a second time to James Bass in 1994, however this marriage ended in divorce nine years later.[25]

Morse is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with the illness in May 2001 and recovered within a year.[26] Morse revealed it had been Wendy Richard who had persuaded her to get a breast lump checked by doctors.[27]

During the evening of 29 June 2008, Dano Sonnex and Nigel Farmer attempted to burgle Morse's home, just hours before they committed the New Cross double murder.[28]

In August 2013, Morse was declared bankrupt.[29]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 Honky Sausages Honky Mum 1 episode [30]
1997 Nil By Mouth Janet Film role [31]
1997 The Bill Janice Ryan Episode: "No Guarantees" [32]
1998 One in Something — Film role [33]
1999 Great Expectations Molly Film role [34]
2000 Love, Honour and Obey Laila Film role [35]
2000–2016, 2018–2022, 2024–present EastEnders Mo Harris Series regular [36]
2003 Slaters in Detention EastEnders spin-off [37]
2004 Pat and Mo EastEnders spin-off [38]
2009 Hell's Kitchen Herself Guest
2010 EastEnders: E20 Mo Harris EastEnders spin-off [39]
2011 Big Fat Gypsy Gangster Aunt Queenie Film role [40]
2012 Dancing on Ice Herself Contestant; series 7 [41]
2013 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant; series 13 [42]
2016 Celebrity MasterChef Contestant; series 11 [43]
2019 Hellboy Employee Film role [44]
2021 Strictly The Real Full Monty Herself Participant [45]
Television guest appearances

Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1998 British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Nil by Mouth Won [53]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Eastender Morse declared bankrupt". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. ^ Gary Oldman – Biography. TalkTalk. Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. ^ Ross, Alex (5 March 2021). "There's a new wave of people just discovering Laila Morse and Gary Oldman are siblings". Planet Radio. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  4. ^ Quinn, Angie (28 June 2022). "BBC EastEnders' Laila Morse's real name and very famous Hollywood brother as Big Mo returns to Walford". My London. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Laila Morse – Awards". Internet Movie Database. 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  6. ^ "EastEnders – Mo Harris". BBC One. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  7. ^ Bletchly, Rachael (23 January 2013). "EastEnders Laila Morse: A TV critic said I acted like cardboard, it took 3 years before I felt comfortable in Albert Square". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  8. ^ Sandwell, Ian (13 June 2017). "EastEnders' Big Mo says "all the fun is gone" from show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  9. ^ Dosani, Rishma (6 February 2021). "EastEnders exit for Big Mo Slater as Laila Morse leaves role". Metro.
  10. ^ "EastEnders is bringing back Big Mo for new Slater story". Digital Spy. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Mo Harris to return to EastEnders alongside Freddie Slater". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  12. ^ "EastEnders confirms permanent Mo Harris return – and there's a twist". Digital Spy. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Big Fat Gypsy Gangster (2011)". Internet Movie Database. 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Specials – Croydon Park Hotel – Croydon, Surrey – Between Gatwick & London". Croydon Park Hotel. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Laila Morse leaves 'Dancing on Ice'". Digital Spy. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  16. ^ Bletchly, Rachael (22 January 2013). "Laila Morse: EastEnders' Mo Harris on the men who beat and betrayed her and the one true love she found again". Mirror. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  17. ^ "I'm A Celebrity 2013: Former EastEnder Laila Morse voted out of the jungle". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Who is on Celebrity MasterChef 2016 and when is it on TV? The full line-up revealed". The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Celebrity MasterChef Winners". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  20. ^ Deen, Sarah (19 December 2018). "Big Mo from EastEnders is in the new Hellboy movie and people are loving it". Metro (British newspaper). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  21. ^ Hill, Rose (6 February 2021). "EastEnders' Laila Morse quits as Big Mo after 20 years on BBC soap". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  22. ^ Jobling, Phoebe (14 December 2021). "EastEnders star Laila Morse praised by viewers after stripping off to reveal cancer scars on the Real Full Monty". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  23. ^ "EastEnders cast Big Mo actress Laila Morse name has hidden meaning | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV | Express.co.uk". www.express.co.uk.
  24. ^ "EastEnders' Laila Morse tells of the men who have beaten and betrayed her throughout her life in new autobiography". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Laila Morse's ex says I'm a Celebrity star is nicknamed "old venom tongue"". Daily Mirror. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  26. ^ "EastEnders' Laila: 'Wendy Richard saved my life'". What's on TV. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  27. ^ Novak, Kim (8 December 2021). "EastEnders Laila Morse feared speaking out about breast cancer would mean losing her job". Metro. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  28. ^ "French student murders: Accused tried to break into EastEnders Mo's home". Daily Mirror. London. 13 May 2009. ISSN 9975-9950. OCLC 223228477. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  29. ^ "EastEnders' Big Mo, otherwise known as Laila Morse, declared bankrupt". The Independent. London. 21 August 2013. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  30. ^ "ShitComs Episode #2: Honky Sausages". July 2016.
  31. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (3 November 2022). "Nil by Mouth review – Gary Oldman's overwhelming study of family violence". The Guardian.
  32. ^ "The EastEnders icon you probably never knew was in the Bill". 10 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Laila Morse | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
  34. ^ "Great Expectations". TVGuide.com.
  35. ^ "Love, Honour and Obey".
  36. ^ "BBC One - EastEnders - Mo Harris".
  37. ^ "14 weird EastEnders, Emmerdale and Corrie spin-offs you may have forgotten". 31 March 2018.
  38. ^ "Pat and Mo star in 'Eastenders' spin-off". Digital Spy. 10 February 2004.
  39. ^ "BBC - EastEnders E20 - Character Profiles".
  40. ^ "Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Film | the Guardian". TheGuardian.com.
  41. ^ "Dancing on Ice line-up includes Sugababe Heidi Range". BBC News. 3 January 2012.
  42. ^ "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2013: Laila Morse".
  43. ^ "Who's been axed from Celebrity MasterChef?". Digital Spy. July 2016.
  44. ^ "Big Mo from EastEnders is in the new Hellboy movie and people are loving it". 19 December 2018.
  45. ^ "EastEnders star Laila Morse signs up for Strictly the Real Full Monty". Digital Spy. 11 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Laila Morse: Where is Mo Harris from EastEnders now?". 24 August 2023.
  47. ^ "Come Dine with Me 11x01 "All in One: Celebrity Special, Bobby Davro, Laila Morse, Dane Bowers, Dani Behr"".
  48. ^ "Weakest Link · Season 2010 Episode 21 · EastEnders Special". 19 February 2010.
  49. ^ "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 6, Soaps, Meet the soap stars - Nina Wadia and Laila Morse".
  50. ^ "EastEnders Laila Morse hits back at claims she has been axed as Big Mo".
  51. ^ "The Chaser who faced their 'smoking hot' celebrity crush". 17 April 2021.
  52. ^ "Celeb Antiques Roadtrip's Laila Morse now from EastEnders exit to famous sibling". 30 January 2024.
  53. ^ "Everything you need to know about EastEnders' Big Mo actress Laila Morse including her very famous brother". OK!. Retrieved 13 February 2021.

External links[edit]

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