It was an historic night for EastEnders.
One of the soaps long-serving extras – cafe worker Marie – FINALLY got a line in Monday night’s episode.
Actress Elizabeth Sweet has played Marie Evans since 2003, and has been called one of “the unsung heroes of EastEnders“ for her dedication to serving tea and sambos in “the caff”.
That category also includes Tracey (played by Jane Slaughter), the long-time, mostly silent barmaid in the Queen Vic, who has been pulling pints, on and off, since 1989.
In Monday night’s episode, there was a scene in the cafe that opened with Tina Carter apologising to Marie for getting an order wrong.
“Don’t worry about it,” Marie tells her.
BUT THERE’S MORE.
Tina then remembers that she has to run out to collect her mum Sylvie’s medicine, and so asks Marie to cover the rest of her shift.
“Can’t someone else do it?” asks chatty Marie.
She then relents and says: “Okay go on, but just this once.”
Fans were bloody delighted to see Marie finally get to speak.
I'm thinking Marie from the caff is Tracey from the Vic's sister… #EastEnders
— Blucanary (@blucanary) September 26, 2016
Marie is a chatterbox tonight #EastEnders
— Jonathon (@JonathonRabbit) September 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/timchech/status/780485559185801217
Check Marie out, getting all chatty in the cafe like she's challenging Tracey's "Queen of the Extras" throne!#EastEnders
— Jungle John (@_JungleJohn_) September 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/The_Gunn_Man/status/780485360447004673
Marie is a right Chatty Cathy tonight isn't she! Can't shut her up #EastEnders
— B-List At Capital (@BListAtCapital) September 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/love_KellieB/status/780485225709244417
All right, Marie, calm down! #EastEnders
— Joseph Lidster (@joseph_lidster) September 26, 2016
OK! has a clip of the exchange if you want to watch it.
And if you’ve ever wondered why even the longest-serving soap extras rarely speak, there’s a simple explanation, as we reported earlier this year.
If you’re an extra on a soap, the amount you’re paid can vary depending on what you’re doing on screen. Extras, or “background artists”, are usually paid a going rate of £84 but if they have to speak, this amount can increase by about £50.50.
Night shoots can also bump up an extra’s pay packet as can a requested “special reaction”. So keeping pay costs down explains why the likes of Marie and Tracey rarely say much.
