Charlene Emma Brooks (born 3 May 1981) is an English actress, best known for her role of Janine Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Brooks has also performed in British television shows The Bill, Wired and Bleak House, as well as portraying Anna Fallmont in the Network 10 drama Lie With Me.
Charlie Brooks | |
|---|---|
 Brooks attending the Mindful Drinking Festival 2020 | |
| Born | 3 May 1981 Ware, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Role of Janine Butcher in EastEnders |
| Children | 1 |
Brooks has also appeared on several reality television shows, winning the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2012. She is set to appear as contestant on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2025.
Early life
editCharlene Emma Brooks was born on 3 May 1981, in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, and moved to Barmouth, Gwynedd when she was a child.[1][2] Brooks attended Tower House School in Barmouth, and relocated to London to attend Ravenscourt Theatre School, Hammersmith.[2]
Career
edit
On television, Brooks has appeared in episodes of The Bill, London's Burning, Jonathan Creek and The Demon Headmaster.[2][3]
After her departure from EastEnders in 2004, Brooks's first role was in the BBC drama Bleak House as Jenny. Brooks has appeared in commercials and voiceovers in the United Kingdom, Europe and the US.[4]
In 2006, Brooks played Beverley Allitt in a BBC1 docu-drama entitled Beverley Allitt: Angel of Death, alongside Ian Kelsey. Producer Cathy Elliot said: "It's a very sensitive issue and of course it's terrible for the parents to have the whole thing brought up. Each time it's brought up it's painful, but a lot of parents realise it's important it's kept in the public domain and that people are aware that things have happened and that not a lot has been done since".[5]
She has guest starred in Robin Hood and Love Soup.[6] In theatre, Brooks, whilst on a break from EastEnders in 2003, appeared in the play Office Games alongside Adam Rickitt.[7] The play was Brooks' West End debut, and described as "a witty and intelligent political commentary".[7] In 2007, she appeared in Our Country's Good at the Liverpool Playhouse.[8]
EastEnders
edit
When executive producer Matthew Robinson re-introduced the character of Janine Butcher in 1999, after Alexia Demetriou had left the role, Brooks secured the role.[4][9] Brooks remained in the role until May 2004.
In April 2008, Brooks returned to EastEnders for a guest stint. She was later confirmed to be coming back as a regular character.[10] She said, "I had doubts to begin with, mainly because of Kiki [her daughter], as I know how full-on EastEnders can be, and then there's that stigma about going back to a soap. But I'm so pleased I did, it was the right decision. Especially with what's going on at the moment, I feel really lucky to have a job and I need the security because of Kiki. I was just going to go back for a year, but I had a meeting with the boss last week and we're going to go for another year. So lots more time to get up to much mischief".[11][12] Executive producer Diederick Santer said, "I couldn't be more pleased that Charlie Brooks is re-joining EastEnders. With her appearances last month, she reminded us what a fine actress she is, and what an intriguing, watchable and engaging character she plays as Janine".[10] She temporarily departed in September 2012, and returned in April 2013 before departing again in March 2014.
In April 2021, it was announced that Brooks had agreed to reprise the role once again for a "huge storyline" and would return later in the year.[13] She made her on-screen return in September 2021. Brooks appeared in her 1,000th episode as Janine on 10 February 2022.
All in a Row
editIn January 2019, it was announced that Alex Oates's play All in a Row, starring Brooks as Tamora, the mother, was going to be produced by Paul Virides Productions at the Southwark Playhouse.[14] The play is based on Oates' ten years of experience caring for severely autistic children and adults, and won the Top Five Play Reading at the Bolton Octagon.[15] The play is about the parents of a profoundly autistic eleven-year-old boy and how they are feeling the night before he is taken to a residential school, when social services feel he needs more support than can be given in their family home.[16]
Criticisms of the play started to emerge when a video trailer for the production was released showing the autistic character, Laurence, portrayed by a puppet. Journalist Frances Ryan, without having seen it, criticised the play by calling it a "grotesque step backwards".[17] The National Autistic Society, who initially decided to help the production by providing consultation, reacted to the Twitter furore by releasing a statement saying "while recognising some of the play's strengths, we decided we could not support the play overall due to its portrayal of autism, particularly the use of a puppet to depict the autistic character alone."[18]
Brooks responded by saying: "I understand people's concerns, but I do urge people to come and see the play first before they judge." She also claimed that having a puppet character is essential and that Laurence, the puppet, is very playful. During rehearsals, Brooks visited the Queensmill School for autistic children in Shepherd’s Bush, talking to the pupils, their teachers and carers. Brooks concluded by stating: "This is a story that is rarely told. I just hope people will come and see it instead of sitting at home getting angry."[19]
Other ventures
editReality television
editShe won I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2012, beating campmate Ashley Roberts.[20][21] Brooks also narrated Botched Up Bodies on Channel 5. In 2025, Brooks is set to appear as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice.[22]
Fitness DVD
editHer fitness DVD became the UK's best-selling fitness DVD release, and Brooks was transformed from "podgy Janine to a sexy new mum".[23]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Demon Headmaster | The Brains | 3 episodes |
| Out of Tune | Carol | Main role; 7 episodes | |
| 1997 | The Bill | Miriam Olston | Episode: "A Place of Your Own" |
| 1998 | Turning Points | Emma | Unknown episodes |
| 1999–2004, 2008–2014, 2021–2022 | EastEnders | Janine Butcher | Regular role; 1,089 episodes |
| 1999 | The Bill | Claire Fellows | Episode: "Cold Calling" |
| Pudding Lane | Janine Butcher | Television film | |
| Jonathan Creek | Trudi | Episode: "The Omega Man" | |
| 2000 | London's Burning | Lisa | Series 12: Episode 1 |
| 2005 | The Golden Hour | Cara Wilson | Series 1: Episode 2 |
| Bleak House | Jenny | Miniseries; 5 episodes | |
| Angel of Death: The Beverly Allitt Story | Beverley Allitt | Television film | |
| 2006 | Take 3 Girls | Patsy | Film |
| Casualty | Sally Montgomery | Episode: "Sons and Lovers" | |
| 2007 | Heartbeat | Julie Langley-Smythe | Episode: "Another Little Piece of My Heart" |
| Robin Hood | Ceris | Episode: "Walkabout" | |
| 2008 | Love Soup | Denise | Episode: "Human Error" |
| Wired | Anna | Miniseries; all 3 episodes | |
| 2010 | EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford | Janine Butcher | DVD release |
| 2011 | EastEnders: E20 | 3 episodes | |
| Strictly Come Dancing (Christmas Special) | Herself (participant) | Winner | |
| 2012–2013 | Celebrity Juice | 4 episodes | |
| 2012 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here | Winner; series 12 | |
| 2013–2014 | Botched Up Bodies | Narrator | Unknown episodes |
| 2014 | Suspects | Tanya | Episode: "Nobody Else: Part 1" |
| 2015 | The Dumping Ground | Stephanie Branston | Episode: "Law & Disorder Part One: Party Games" |
| 2016 | The Chase: Celebrity Special | Herself (participant) | Didn't appear in the final chase |
| 2018 | Moving On | Tina | Episode: "Neighbour" |
| 2020 | FOG | Rachel | Short film |
| 2021 | Lie With Me | Anna Fallmont | Miniseries; all 4 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Richard Osman's House of Games | Herself | Participant; 10 episodes, including House of Champions |
| 2025 | Dancing on Ice | Contestant; series 17 |
Theatre and radio
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Office Games | Rose Brown |
| 2004 | The Play What I Wrote | Rose |
| 2005–2006 | Dixon of Dock Green | Mary Dixon |
| 2006 | Dangerous Corner | Betty |
| 2007 | Our Country's Good | Dabby Bryant |
| 2013 | Dusty Won't Play | Dusty Springfield |
| 2014 | Beautiful Thing | Sandra Gangel |
| 2015 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Blanche |
| 2017 | How the Other Half Loves | Teresa |
| 2019 | All in a Row | Tamora |
| 2022–2023 | The Ocean at the End of the Lane | Ursula / Skarthach |
| 2024 | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | Childcatcher |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Nominated | |
| The British Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won | |
| 2002 | Nominated | |||
| 2003 | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | |
| TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Won | [24] | |
| Best Soap Storyline | Nominated | |||
| The British Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Villain of the Year | Won | |||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| Best Soap Storyline | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | The British Soap Awards | Best Exit | Won | |
| 2009 | All About Soap Awards | Best Bitch | Won | [25] |
| Inside Soap Awards | Won | |||
| End of Year EastEnders Awards | Won | |||
| 2010 | All About Soap Awards | Femme Fatale | Won | [26] |
| Best Soap Love Triangle (Shared with Lacey Turner and Neil McDermott) |
Nominated | [27] | ||
| Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best Soap Bitch | Won | ||
| 2011 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated | |
| TV Times Awards | TV's Most Popular Bitch | Won | ||
| All About Soap Awards | Best Celeb Style | Nominated | [28] | |
| 2012 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated | [29] |
| Inside Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Won | ||
| DS Awards | DS Female Soap Actor | Won | [30] | |
| 2013 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated | [31] |
| Inside Soap Awards | Soap Bitch of the Year | Nominated | ||
| DS Awards | Best Female Soap Actor | Nominated | [32] | |
| 2014 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated | |
| Best Storyline – Hello Stacey, Goodbye Janine | Nominated | |||
| 2021 | I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Performance | Nominated | [33] |
| 2022 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Villain | Nominated | |
| I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Partnership (with Danny Dyer) | Nominated | [34] | |
| 2022 | Digital Spy Awards | OMG Soap Moment of the Year | Won | [35] |
References
edit- ^ "England & Wales births 1837–2006 Transcription". Retrieved 30 September 2015 – via Find My Past.
- ^ a b c "Charlie Brooks – Played the scheming Janine Butcher in Eastenders". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ "Charlie Brooks – Spotlight Actresses 2012/2013". Spotlight. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Janine Butcher played by Charlie Brooks". BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ "BBC film revives spectre of Allitt". The Grantham Journal. Johnston Press. 27 April 2006. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ "Robin Hood (Series 2 – 10. Walkabout)". Radio Times. Exponent. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b Nelson, Paul. "Playing office games is not such a civil service". IndieLondon. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Key, Phillip (7 February 2007). "Convicts prove the power of theatre; Theatre Our Country's Good/ Liverpool Playhouse Philip Key ponders a play about real events and characters". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Lock, Kate (2000). EastEnders Who's Who. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-55178-X.
- ^ a b Green, Kris (2 May 2008). "Janine to make regular 'Enders return". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Green, Kris (29 March 2008). "Charlie Brooks for full-time 'Enders return?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Sulway, Verity (6 September 2001). "Why Charlie Brooks quit EastEnders three times as she makes dramatic return as Janine". Mirror. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Lindsay, Duncan (21 April 2021). "EastEnders spoilers: Janine Butcher returns as huge storyline kicks off". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "All in a Row". Southwark Playhouse Official Website. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Top 5 scripts chosen out of 800 entries for theatre stage". The Bolton News. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "World Update". BBC Sounds (Podcast). BBC. 11 February 2019. Event occurs at 16:57. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Ryan, Frances (12 February 2019). "Casting a puppet as an autistic child is a grotesque step backwards". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Critics say new play that uses a puppet to portray an autistic boy 'dehumanises' those with the condition". Evening Standard. London. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Allfree, Claire (19 February 2019). "See our autism play before you judge, urges actress Charlie Brooks". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ Busk-Cowley, Mark (2014). I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!: The Inside Story. Bantam Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0593073483.
- ^ Bell, Amy (1 December 2012). "Charlie Brooks wins 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ Wilkes, Joseph (28 September 2024). "Eastenders Janine Butcher villain actress signs up to star in Dancing on Ice". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Charlie Brooks". Hello!. Eduardo Sánchez Junco. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to the TVQuick Awards 2004!". TV Quick. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "All About Soap 'Bubble' winners announced". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
- ^ "'Enders, Corrie win All About Soap awards". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "EastEnders are nominated for 10 awards!". EastEnders. BBC. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ "Who gets your Bubble Award vote?". BBC. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "TVChoice Awards 2012: The winners - In full". Digital Spy. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "'EastEnders', Corrie, 'Hollyoaks' all win in Digital Spy's 2012 poll". Digital Spy. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ "EastEnders leads TV Choice soap shortlist". RTE. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Digital Spy readers' awards 2012: The winners!". Digital Spy. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Gonzalez, Elliot. "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2021 Nominations". I Talk Telly. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Gonzalez, Elliot. "Mo Gilligan leads the I Talk Telly Awards 2022 nominations". I Talk Telly. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "EastEnders wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2022". Digital Spy. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
External links
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