Karen Henthorn

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 Henthorn was born on 14 February 1963 in Oldham, Lancashire to Pamela (née Stott) and Peter Henthorn. She has an older brother, Stephen. 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.

Career After beginning her career in theatre, Henthorn's early television roles included appearances in Children's Ward and Boon in 1989. She made her film debut in 1993 as a young mother in Raining Stones. Henthorn's other roles included parts in series such as The Booze Cruise,

In 2011, she appeared on Sky One's comedy series Trollied. 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. Between 2013, she appeared in the touring National Theatre production of War Horse. 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.

In 2022, she starred as DI Sowerby in the Channel 5 programme The Teacher alongside Sheridan Smith and Kelvin Fletcher. 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. In 2024, she appeared as Emily in the BBC One drama The Listeners.

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. She returned the following month, and departed in May 2026 following Nigel's death. 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. Henthorn also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series The Girlfriend, as well as an episode of The Jury: Murder Trial. Following her departure from EastEnders, she went on to appear in the dark comedy play Mothers and Daughters at the Edge Theatre, Manchester.

Personal life Henthorn was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer in 2011, and ultimately beat the disease. 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. 1999 Silent Witness Anne-Marie Williams 2 episodes

2006 The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering Cath Bolton Television film

2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Pathologist 2 episodes

2007 Heartbeat Mary Younger Episode: "The Medium Is the Message"

2008 Doctors Doreen Fletcher Episode: "No. 786"

2009 Pussyfooting Trudy Short film

2011 Trollied Michelle 1 episode

2011 Young Dracula Mrs. Cotton 1 episode

2013 In the Flesh Janet Macy 3 episodes

2015 Doctors Ruth Price Episode: "Busted"

2018 Dark Heart Theresa Ryan / Theresa Clarke 2 episodes

2018 Thick As Steves Auntie Jean Television film

2020 The Trouble with Maggie Cole Jenny Myer 4 episodes

2025 Fackham Hall Sister Jude Film role

2025 Ellipsis Alison Short film

Stage Year Title Role 1976 The Crucible Betty Parris Zack Sally Teale 2015 Ockerbys on Ice Viv Ockerby 2017 Shirley Audrey 2017 Spring and Port Wine Daisy Crompton 2018 The Newspaper Boy Nana Jean 2019 Tinned Up Shirley Parkin 2021 A Midsummer Night's Dream Bottom 2022 Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry 2025 Blithe Spirit Madame Arcarti 2026 Mothers and Daughters Gill