Laila Morse

Dancing on Ice I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

Maureen Lesley Bass (** 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

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

Career

Early work

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 writing and directing debut of her actor brother Gary. Morse's performance as the matriarch won her the award of 'Most Promising Newcomer in any Category' at the British Independent Film Awards.

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. In 2000, Morse played Laila in the film Love, Honour and Obey.

''EastEnders''

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. 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. 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. 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. 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). She returned in May 2024.

Other work

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. In December 2012, Morse made her pantomime debut as the Fairy in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

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 were the second couple to be eliminated.

Morse published her autobiography Just A Mo in 2013. 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.

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

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

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.

Personal life

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". Morse was married to Gerald Bromfield from 1963 to 1970 and they had two children, Gerry and Tracy Bromfield. Morse married for a second time to James Bass in 1994. The marriage ended in divorce nine years later.

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

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.

In August 2013, Morse was declared bankrupt.{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eastenders-big-mo-otherwise-known-as-laila-morse-declared-bankrupt-8777610.html |title=EastEnders' Big Mo, otherwise known as Laila Morse, declared bankrupt |work=The Independent |date=21 August 2013 |location=London |issn=0951-9467 |oclc=185201487 | access-date=16 August 2014}}

Filmography

; Television guest appearances

• The Alan Titchmarsh Show (2008) – Guest
• Come Dine with Me (2009) – Contestant
• The Weakest Link (2010) – Contestant
• Pointless Celebrities (2012) – Contestant
• Sunday Side Up (29 December 2013) – Guest
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (4 October 2014) – Contestant
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (30 January 2024) – Guest

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (21 August 2013). "Eastender Morse declared bankrupt". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
2. "Gary Oldman's mum dies aged 98, actor pays emotional tribute". [[Hello! (magazine).
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150920122502/http://www.talktalk.co.uk/entertainment/film/biography/artist/gary-oldman/biography/136 Gary Oldman – Biography]. ''[[TalkTalk Group. TalkTalk]]''. [[Wayback Machine]]. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
4. Ross, Alex. (5 March 2021). "There's a new wave of people just discovering Laila Morse and Gary Oldman are siblings".
5. Quinn, Angie. (28 June 2022). "BBC EastEnders' Laila Morse's real name and very famous Hollywood brother as Big Mo returns to Walford".
6. (2014). "Laila Morse – Awards". Internet Movie Database.
7. "EastEnders – Mo Harris". BBC One.
8. 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]].
9. Sandwell, Ian. (13 June 2017). "EastEnders' Big Mo says "all the fun is gone" from show". [[Digital Spy]].
10. Dosani, Rishma. (6 February 2021). "EastEnders exit for Big Mo Slater as Laila Morse leaves role". [[Metro (British newspaper).
11. (28 June 2022). "EastEnders is bringing back Big Mo for new Slater story".
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13. (28 February 2024). "EastEnders confirms permanent Mo Harris return – and there's a twist".
14. (2014). "Big Fat Gypsy Gangster (2011)". Internet Movie Database.
15. "Specials – Croydon Park Hotel – Croydon, Surrey – Between Gatwick & London". Croydon Park Hotel.
16. (15 January 2012). "Laila Morse leaves 'Dancing on Ice'".
17. 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". [[Daily Mirror.
18. "I'm A Celebrity 2013: Former EastEnder Laila Morse voted out of the jungle". [[The Independent]].
19. (13 June 2016). "Who is on Celebrity MasterChef 2016 and when is it on TV? The full line-up revealed". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
20. "Celebrity MasterChef Winners".
21. Deen, Sarah. (19 December 2018). "Big Mo from EastEnders is in the new Hellboy movie and people are loving it". [[Metro (British newspaper)]].
22. Hill, Rose. (6 February 2021). "EastEnders' Laila Morse quits as Big Mo after 20 years on BBC soap". [[Daily Mirror]].
23. Jobling, Phoebe. (14 December 2021). "EastEnders star Laila Morse praised by viewers after stripping off to reveal cancer scars on the Real Full Monty".
24. "EastEnders cast Big Mo actress Laila Morse name has hidden meaning | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV | Express.co.uk".
25. "EastEnders' Laila Morse tells of the men who have beaten and betrayed her throughout her life in new autobiography". [[Daily Record (Scotland).
26. (22 November 2013). "Laila Morse's ex says I'm a Celebrity star is nicknamed "old venom tongue"".
27. "EastEnders' Laila: 'Wendy Richard saved my life'". [[What's on TV]].
28. Novak, Kim. (8 December 2021). "EastEnders Laila Morse feared speaking out about breast cancer would mean losing her job".
29. (13 May 2009). "French student murders: Accused tried to break into EastEnders Mo's home". [[Daily Mirror]].
30. (July 2016). "ShitComs Episode #2: Honky Sausages".
31. (3 November 2022). "Nil by Mouth review – Gary Oldman's overwhelming study of family violence". The Guardian.
32. (10 February 2021). "The EastEnders icon you probably never knew was in the Bill".
33. "Laila Morse | Rotten Tomatoes".
34. "Great Expectations".
35. "Love, Honour and Obey".
36. "BBC One - EastEnders - Mo Harris".
37. (31 March 2018). "14 weird EastEnders, Emmerdale and Corrie spin-offs you may have forgotten".
38. (10 February 2004). "Pat and Mo star in 'Eastenders' spin-off".
39. "BBC - EastEnders E20 - Character Profiles".
40. "Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Film | the Guardian".
41. (3 January 2012). "Dancing on Ice line-up includes Sugababe Heidi Range". BBC News.
42. "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2013: Laila Morse".
43. (July 2016). "Who's been axed from Celebrity MasterChef?".
44. (19 December 2018). "Big Mo from EastEnders is in the new Hellboy movie and people are loving it".
45. (11 November 2021). "EastEnders star Laila Morse signs up for Strictly the Real Full Monty".
46. (24 August 2023). "Laila Morse: Where is Mo Harris from EastEnders now?".
47. "Come Dine with Me 11x01 "All in One: Celebrity Special, Bobby Davro, Laila Morse, Dane Bowers, Dani Behr"".
48. (19 February 2010). "Weakest Link · Season 2010 Episode 21 · EastEnders Special".
49. "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 6, Soaps, Meet the soap stars - Nina Wadia and Laila Morse".
50. (12 February 2021). "EastEnders Laila Morse hits back at claims she has been axed as Big Mo".
51. (17 April 2021). "The Chaser who faced their 'smoking hot' celebrity crush".
52. (30 January 2024). "Celeb Antiques Roadtrip's Laila Morse now from EastEnders exit to famous sibling".
53. "Everything you need to know about EastEnders' Big Mo actress Laila Morse including her very famous brother". [[OK!]].
54. "EastEnders cast celebrate awards nominations with new photoshoot". [[Digital Spy]].