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Karen Henthorn

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Karen Henthorn
Born (1963-02-14) 14 February 1963 (age 63)
Oldham, Lancashire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1976–present

Karen Henthorn (born 14 February 1963) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Julie Bates in BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1997 to 1998 and 2025 to 2026, as well as Teresa Bryant in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 2007 and 2010. Henthorn's other roles include various appearances in Doctors, Casualty and Holby City, as well as stage productions including War Horse, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.

Early life

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Henthorn was born on 14 February 1963 in Oldham, Lancashire to Pamela (née Stott) and Peter Henthorn.[1][2] She has an older brother, Stephen.[3] She began to develop an interest in acting aged 12, and subsequently joined the Oldham Theatre workshop, before being cast in her first professional role the following year, portraying Betty Parris in a theatre production of The Crucible. She then went on to study a two-year foundation course in Theatre Studies at her local college, before embarking on a three year course at Drama Centre London.[4]

Career

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After beginning her career in theatre, Henthorn's early television roles included appearances in Children's Ward and Boon in 1989.[5] She made her film debut in 1993 as a young mother in Raining Stones.[5] In 1997, Henthorn joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Julie Haye, a school teacher of Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix). She later becomes a love interest for Clare's father Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and the pair begin a relationship, ultimately departing in April 1998 after Julie accepts a job in Scotland and Nigel decides to leave alongside her.[6][7] Henthorn's other roles included parts in series such as The Booze Cruise,[8] in which she played Cath Bolton, as well as several episodes of Doctors, Casualty, Heartbeat and Holby City.[8] She also played Marissa Platting, a social worker in the television series Shameless.[8]

In 2007, Henthorn joined the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Teresa Bryant. Initially appearing for several episodes, she returned a year later on a permanent contract with the character's storylines including her ex-husband Jerry Morton (Michael Starke)'s heart attack, a complicated relationship with her children, and her relationship with Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles). The majority of Teresa's on-screen family the Mortons were axed in 2008, however she remained on the show until making her final appearance in May 2010.[9][10]

In 2011, she appeared on Sky One's comedy series Trollied.[8] The same year, she played a school inspector in the CBBC series Young Dracula. Between 2013 and 2014, she played Janet Macy on the BBC Three series In the Flesh.[11] Henthorn is also a teacher, having taught screen acting on the BA (Hons) Acting course at Italia Conti Academy in Clapham and at the Manchester School of Theatre.[12] Between 2013, she appeared in the touring National Theatre production of War Horse.[8] Henthorn's other stage credits include Ockerbys on Ice, Shirley, Spring and Port Wine, The Newspaper Boy, Tinned Up, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing and Blithe Spirit.[13][14]

In 2022, she starred as DI Sowerby in the Channel 5 programme The Teacher alongside Sheridan Smith and Kelvin Fletcher.[15] The following year, she appeared in an episode of the ITV drama Vera as Jill Falstone; in the first episode of Channel 5's The Good Ship Murder as Maureen Weaver; and in the second series of BBC One prison drama Time.[16] In 2024, she appeared as Emily in the BBC One drama The Listeners.[17]

After making a voice appearance earlier in the year, in June 2025, it was announced that Henthorn would return to EastEnders as Julie Bates, after 27 years away from the role, as part of the character's on screen husband Nigel's dementia storyline.[18][19][20] She returned the following month, and departed in May 2026 following Nigel's death.[21][22] Julie proved popular with the soap's viewers during her return, with many commending Henthorn's portrayal of the character and were disappointed to see her depart.[23] Henthorn also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series The Girlfriend, as well as an episode of The Jury: Murder Trial.[24] Following her departure from EastEnders, she went on to appear in the dark comedy play Mothers and Daughters at the Edge Theatre, Manchester.[25]

Personal life

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Henthorn was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer in 2011, and ultimately beat the disease.[26] She went on to support a fundraising campaign for Stand Up To Cancer and had two further cancerous lumps removed, one from her chest and another from her right arm.[3]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1989 Boon Female Student 1 episode [5]
1989 Children's Ward Casualty Nurse 1 episode [5]
1990 Casualty Sandra Episode: "Close to Home" [5]
1993 Raining Stones Young Mother Film role [5]
1995 The Bill Melanie Cross Episode: "Presumed Guilty" [5]
1997 Dalziel and Pascoe Sturgeon's Nurse Episode: "Ruling Passion" [5]
1997–1998, 2025–2026 EastEnders Julie Bates Regular role [27]
1999 Silent Witness Anne-Marie Williams 2 episodes [5]
1999 Stanton Blues Geri Green 2 episodes [5]
2000 My Hero Jason's Mum 1 episode [5]
2000 Holby City Jeanette Cunningham Episode: "Into the Woods" [5]
2000 Doctors Amanda Kenworth Episode: "Coming and Going" [5]
2003 The Booze Cruise Cath Bolton Television film [5]
2003 Sons & Lovers Librarian Television film [5]
2003 The Bill Bridget Thomas Episode: "Bad Taste" [5]
2004 Born and Bred Ivy 2 episodes [5]
2004 Doctors Sheila Seagrove Episode: "The Birds and the Bees" [5]
2004 Heartbeat Glad Dibley Episode: "Mountains and Molehills" [5]
2004 Casualty Helen Bradshaw Episode: "World Gone Wild: Part 2" [5]
2005 The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt Cath Bolton Television film [5]
2005 Shameless Marissa Platting 1 episode [28]
2006 The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering Cath Bolton Television film [5]
2006 No Angels Craft Leader 2 episodes [5]
2006 Pulling Eileen 1 episode [29]
2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Pathologist 2 episodes [5]
2007 The Bill Judith Wilkes Episode: "The New Generation" [5]
2007 Holby City Susan Hobson Episode: "Leap of Faith" [30]
2007 Heartbeat Mary Younger Episode: "The Medium Is the Message" [5]
2007–2010 Coronation Street Teresa Bryant Regular role [31]
2008 Doctors Doreen Fletcher Episode: "No. 786" [32]
2009 Pussyfooting Trudy Short film [5]
2009 The Street Headmistress 1 episode [5]
2011 Casualty Helen Leigh 2 episodes [33]
2011 Trollied Michelle 1 episode [34]
2011 Young Dracula Mrs. Cotton 1 episode [5]
2012 White Heat Val Television mini-series; 3 episodes [5]
2012 Homefront Maria 1 episode [5]
2012 Doctors Paula Salisbury Episode: "Life's Too Short" [35]
2013 In the Flesh Janet Macy 3 episodes [36]
2015 Doctors Ruth Price Episode: "Busted" [37]
2018 Dark Heart Theresa Ryan / Theresa Clarke 2 episodes [38]
2018 Thick As Steves Auntie Jean Television film [5]
2018 Doctors Bea Donalds Episode: "Shame" [39]
2020 The Trouble with Maggie Cole Jenny Myer 4 episodes [5]
2021 Viewpoint Janice Baines Television mini-series; 5 episodes [5]
2022 The Teacher DI Sowerby 2 episodes [5]
2022 Royal Shakespeare Company: Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry Television film [5]
2022 The Rising Joan Connolly 5 episodes [5]
2023 Vera Jill Falstone 1 episode [5]
2023 The Good Ship Murder Maureen Weaver 1 episode [5]
2023 Time Elizabeth O'Riordan 2 episodes [5]
2024 Passenger Cath Benjamin-Dale 3 episodes [5]
2024 The Listeners Emily 3 episodes [5]
2025 The Jury: Murder Trial Mary Crossford Television mini-series; 1 episode [5]
2025 Selby Love Mrs. Blenkin Short film [5]
2025 The Girlfriend Tracey Laine Television mini-series; 6 episodes [40]
2025 Fackham Hall Sister Jude Film role [41]
2025 Ellipsis Alison Short film [5]
2025 Jackie Is Lost Jackie Short film [42]

Stage

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Year Title Role Ref.
1976 The Crucible Betty Parris [13]
N/a Zack Sally Teale [13]
N/a Edward II Lady Margaret De Claire [13]
N/a The Snow Queen Gerda [13]
N/a Wuthering Heights Cathy [13]
N/a The Idiot Aglaya [13]
N/a The Caucasian Chalk Circle Grusha [13]
N/a A Taste of Honey Sally Teale [13]
N/a Not Gods But Giants Shirley Ryan [13]
N/a Bintou P'tit Jean's Mother [13]
N/a The Crucible Abigail Williams [13]
1989 A Chorus of Disapproval Linda Washbrook [13]
1992 Straight and Narrow Lois [13]
2002 The Accrington Pals Annie Boggis [13]
2013–2014 War Horse Rose Narracott [43]
2015 Ockerbys on Ice Viv Ockerby [44]
2017 Shirley Audrey [45]
2017 Spring and Port Wine Daisy Crompton [46]
2018 The Newspaper Boy Nana Jean [47]
2019 Tinned Up Shirley Parkin [48]
2021 A Midsummer Night's Dream Bottom [49]
2022 Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry [50]
2025 Blithe Spirit Madame Arcarti [51]
2026 Mothers and Daughters Gill [52]

References

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  1. ↑ "Corrie star's dad died of cancer, decades on she got the news she dreaded". Manchester Evening News. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday to this legend! Currently being suitably bonkers @hopemilltheatre with @productions_her in #BlitheSpirit so we can't share a beer...YET!". X. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Former Oldham Corrie star opens up about battle with cancer". The Oldham Times. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "How old is Karen Henthorn and who did she play in Coronation Street?". Heart. Archived from the original on 15 November 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 "Karen Henthorn". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "WAYNE'S WORLD: There's method in my madness". Sale & Altrincham Messenger. 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Miles, Tina (9 August 2008). "Coronation Street star Michael Starke's last scenes". Liverpool Echo.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Bourne, Dianne (7 November 2013). "War Horse role turns Emily Aston's Bacup accent French". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "Corrie producer: 'It was too late for the Mortons'". Digital Spy. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Quinn, Angie (15 July 2025). "EastEnders' Julie Bates star Karen Henthorn's real life including Corrie role". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Karen Henthorn Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Mwitumwa, Monde (1 February 2022). "The Teacher: Karen Henthorn's life from Corrie role to romance mystery". Yorkshire Live. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Karen Henthorn". Spotlight. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Coronation Street star at Lancaster play launch". Lancaster Guardian. 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Teacher cast: Who is in the Channel 5 series?". Heart. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Time season 2 cast: Who stars in the BBC prison drama?". Radio Times. 5 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Craig, David (19 November 2024). "The Listeners cast: Full list of actors and characters in BBC drama". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Karen Henthorn returns to EastEnders as Nigel Bates' wife Julie arrives in Walford". BBC Media Centre. 26 June 2025. Archived from the original on 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "EastEnders star confirms Julie's show future ahead of heartbreaking return". Digital Spy. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "EastEnders confirm long-awaited return after 27 years for devastating story". Digital Spy. 26 June 2025. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "EastEnders star speaks out on surprise Julie Bates exit as cast pay tribute". Digital Spy. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  22. ↑ Adams, Michael. "EastEnders airs unannounced exit for beloved character in BBC iPlayer release | Radio Times". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "EastEnders fans 'gutted' over Karen Henthorn's departure". FemaleFirst. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  24. ↑ Harley, Joel (27 August 2025). "Fans shocked as Karen Henthorn appears in The Jury: Murder Trial". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 30 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Mothers and Daughters". Edge Theatre. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Former Coronation Street star squats for Stand Up to Cancer in memory of her dad". Mancunian Matters. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "EastEnders finally confirms Julie's Walford future - and it's not good news". Digital Spy. 20 May 2026. Archived from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "Karen Henthorn". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  29. ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "Pulling: Series 1, Episode 6". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "BBC One - Holby City, Series 9, Leap of Faith". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Aaron's trial, Zainab loses it and 'Oaks temptation". Digital Spy. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "BBC One - Doctors, Series 10, No. 786". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "BBC One - Casualty (Archive), Series 25, When the Bough Breaks..." BBC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  34. ↑ Guide, British Comedy. "Trollied: Series 1, Episode 2". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "BBC One - Doctors, Series 14, Life's Too Short". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "BBC Three - In The Flesh, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "BBC One - Doctors, Series 17, Busted". BBC. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "Dark Heart series 1 review". Dead Good. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "BBC One - Doctors, Series 23, Shame". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "The Girlfriend on Prime Video cast: Character guide and where you've seen the actors before". Cosmopolitan. 10 September 2025. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Movie Review – Fackham Hall". www.fernbyfilms.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "Jackie Is Lost". Minute Shorts. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  43. ↑ Finest, Manchester's (12 August 2014). "10 minutes with War Horse actress Karen Henthorn". Manchester's Finest. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Laugh and Cry with The Ockerbys". The Dukes. Archived from the original on 16 March 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "REVIEW: Unflinching honesty in Andrea Dunbar's final play". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "Spring and Port Wine review, Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, 2017". The Stage. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "The Newspaper Boy". Claire Bleasdale Casting | Casting Director Manchester. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Story of pre-Media City terraced home demolitions in Salford is comedy gold". The Oldham Times. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  49. ↑ "All Female A Midsummer Night's Dream Review". Harpy. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Latest Press Releases | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "REVIEW - Blithe Spirit will have you in stitches, with the strong cast beautifully bringing this classic to life!". LondonTheatres.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  52. ↑ Meads, Glenn (11 May 2026). "The two actresses bringing a women-led dark comedy to one of Manchester's most intimate theatres". I Love Manchester. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
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