TANYA FRANKS

Tanya Franks is mostly known for her starring roles in television including "Rainie Cross" in EastEnders, "Karen" in the BBC award winning comedy series Pulling, The Bill, The Cup, and Family Affairs. Her leading guest roles include Skins, Ashes To Ashes, Holby City, and Doctors. Tanya is also the founder of Stock-pot Productions.

Tanya first rose to prominence in 2000, after being cast in the Channel Five soap opera Family Affairs as “Karen Ellis”. Franks continued in the soap opera for three years, with storylines including a cancer scare, infertility, surrogacy, and a child custody battle, before leaving the series in 2003. In 2004, Franks was cast as “DI Morell” in the long-running ITV1 police serial-drama The Bill. Tanya stayed with the serial for over a year, with her character investigating various murders of police officers and police corruption.

In 2005 and 2006 Tanya guest-starred in an episode of the BBC1 medical serial-drama Holby City and the BBC1 drama series Doctors. She then went on to star opposite Sharon Horgan and Rebekah Staton in the BBC Three award-winning comedy series Pulling. Franks played "Karen", the promiscuous, drunk primary school teacher. The sitcom ran for two series and a special feature episode. Tanya was nominated for a British Comedy Award, the series won a South Bank Show award and a British Comedy Award, and gained a BAFTA nomination for best comedy series.

In July 2007, it was announced that Franks would play the role of Tanya Branning’s sister, “Rainie Cross” in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders for a week-long stint from 2 August 2007. Franks returned to EastEnders as "Rainie" in January 2008, and again in August 2010. She returned again in April 2011 for a 9 month regular stint.

In 2008, Tanya starred as "Sandra Farrell" in the BBC Two mocumentary series The Cup. In 2009, Tanya guest-starred in an episode of the E4 teen drama Skins, and in 2010, she was the guest-lead in an episode of the BBC1 time-travelling drama series Ashes to Ashes. Since September 2010, Tanya has been starring as the new series regular "Dolly" in the CBBC comedy serial Hotel Trubble.

Tanya has always been a prominent theatre actress including leading roles at London's National Theatre in Really Old, Like Forty Five in 2010, The Black Album in 2009, and Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads in 2004. She also co-starred in Steven Berkoff's West End 25th anniversary production of East in 1999. Her theatre credits date back to 1986 and are too numerous to mention here.

In 1993, Tanya founded Stock-pot Productions which for some years produced various theatre productions including Deckchairs at the Kings Head Theatre and the tour of You Don't Kiss and a number of workshops in schools. In the mid-200s Tanya turned her hand to film co-writing and co-producing two shorts The Briefcase That Brings Out The Baby In You, and Missing. She then wrote, co-produced and co-starred in One Day, a short film officially selected in numerous international film festivals and was Kodak finalist for Best Short Film of 2007. In addition to Tanya, the film starred Tim McInnerny as well as Toby Stephens in a cameo.

Tanya, with Stock-pot Productions, is currently in development with a feature-length film, Fly Me, written by Franks. She will also co-direct with her One Day director James Barriscale. Toby Stephens is lined up to play the lead, and the film will also co-star Tim McInnerny.

In 2011 Tanya teamed up with entrepreneur and Secret Millionaire Caroline Marsh. Their new venture is Share-Love to promote love with their products and raise money for charity.