ONE of the stars in EastEnders looked completely unrecognisable in one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time.
Absolutely Fabulous first made its debut on the BBC in November 1992 and became a pop culture phenomenon.
The show revolved around the heavy-drinking and drug abusing PR 'guru' Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders).
As she tries her best to stay young and 'hip', her alcoholic ex-model turned fashion magazine editor best friend Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) only enables her behaviour.
Edina heavily relies on the support of her daughter Saffron - aka Saffy - who was played by Julia Sawalha.
She has been left as a bitter cynic and the worst enemy of Patsy after her constant care of her immature and reckless mother.
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But alongside the main cast members, the supporting cast included the likes of June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks.
Harriet Thorpe has become beloved amongst soap fans for her role of Queen Vic Landlady, Elaine Peacock in EastEnders.
The actress first joined the soap as the mother of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) in 2023.
However, she also starred in Absolutely Fabulous as Patsy's dim-witted long-time colleague Fleur.
She played the beauty director at Patsy's magazine alongside Helen Lederer as Catriona and Kathy Burke as their boss, Magda.
In unearthed scenes, Harriet, 67, looks almost unrecognisable with bleach blonde hair in scenes in the fourth series.
She would have a recurring role in the series, and would play a part in the show right up until the end in 2003.
The fresh-faced star sat in a meeting at the magazine's HQ as she ran through the beauty trends in the 90's.
After her debut in the sitcom, she worked extensively with Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French.
However, she ended up reprising the role for the 2010 specials to celebrate the sitcom's 20th anniversary.
Six years later in 2016, Harriet once again put herself in Fleur's shoes for the highly-anticipated 2016 movie edition.
Ab Fab: The main cast
Main Cast
- Jennifer Saunders: Edina 'Eddie' Monsoon
- Joanna Lumley: Patsy Stone
- Julia Sawalha: Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon
- Jane Horrocks: Bubble (Also Katy Grin in Series 4 and 5)
- June Whitfield: Mother
Supporting Cast
- Christopher Ryan: Marshall Turtle
- Mo Gaffney: Bo Turtle
- Christopher Malcolm: Justin
- Helen Lederer: Catriona
- Harriet Thorpe: Fleur
- Kathy Burke: Magda
- Miranda Richardson: Bettina
- Patrick Barlow: Max
- Celia Imrie: Claudia Bing
- Llewella Gideon: Nurse/Beautician
