Whatever It Takes - Softcover

A compelling story of love, loss, celebrity, and family survival from one of the nation's favorite soap stars. Elaine Lordan is well-known to millions as "EastEnders"' Lynne Slater. Yet the real-life heartache and loss she came to suffer eclipsed even the rollercoaster troubles of her TV character. After leaving the show, Elaine lost her beloved mother when she took her life under a train. Then later that same year, just two days after her wedding, Elaine lost James, her one-year-old son and only child, to a rare condition. "Whatever It Takes" is the story of a no-nonsense working-class girl who hit the big time and enjoyed several happy years as one of the nation's favorite soap stars. Things took a downward turn as her heavy drinking and affair with a married man led to her being hounded by the press. Yet Pete would become the love of her life and together they would experience the unfathomable joy of having a child. This flush of happiness was short-lived, though, as Elaine felt the full impact of her mother's death, while her son James battled for life. It wasn't long before family life revolved around the hospital--hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. Full of larger-than-life characters from her boisterous Irish family and close circle of north London friends, Elaine tells her story with heart-wrenching candor. In this life-affirming memoir of overcoming tragedy, we see how Elaine's indomitable spirit and innate humour have carried her through even the bleakest moments, and how one woman's "sink or swim" approach has ensured her survival.

Elaine Lordan was born and brought up in Islington, north London. As a child, she became a member of the nearby Anna Scher Theatre. Her first professional job, at the age of twelve, was in the West End production of the musical Annie. For the next twenty years she worked extensively on the stage, and also in feature films and on TV. In 2000 she joined the cast of EastEnders, playing the part of Lynne Slater. She left the show in 2004, and appeared again on TV the following year in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Elaine continues to live in Islington, with her husband.