She's been off screen for significant amounts of time at least 3 times in the last year. I know people get holidays but it's often been for over a month!

She's the leading lady of DTC's era, and when she's on screen she's REALLY on screen, like involved in a lot of scenes/stories, so it's understandable she gets some time off.

No. all actors get several weeks holiday a year. Carol has been off screen for several weeks. Kat, Alfie, Sharon, Masood and Ian have all had long holidays this year. Probably a few others that I haven't noticed.
Linda always takes her main holiday at this time of year to spend some time with her husband's family in Greece.

Oh yes, of course she does! I forgot, it was this time last year when Carl kidnapped her and she was missing until November.

She usually has 2 months off a year doesn't she? Shirley is one of those characters where it is really noticeable when she isn't on screen imo, I think several others have had their holidays recently too, most notably Carol, Sharon and Ian but they are all still full time characters.

Yes but she can't really help it if she's kidnapped can she

Yeah, I agree with this!

Bib: I have heard this a lot and it is obviously true but, how did you find this out? It's never been mentioned in interviews. Just wondering.

And the year before that she went to Carly's.

From her no 1 fan who used to post here. Linda doesn't give interviews as far as I know, apart from one with Paul Grady. She also has a grown up daughter.

She's always had lots of time off. She spends 2 months in Greece every year as well as having lots of breaks throughout the year. People didn't really notice until recently because she wasn't significant enough of a character to notice her absence.

Check her IMDB profile. She's always absent from September to November with the exception of a few years. The period of late September to early November is usually Shirley light or Shirley free. Outside of that before recently she would only appear in an episode or two in any given month unless she had a storyline going on.

No Linda Henry isn't part time but she's on a break like many actors/characters take every year. Shirley has been overused this year so I'm glad she is absent for a bit. When Shirley comes back, she will be really busy with the Mick reveal and the fallout of Dean/Linda.

Being soaps leading lady of Eastenders first family, and Queen of Albert Square is a very demanding job. She retires to the royal holiday-gutter for a period of rest and recuperation every year.

I imagine she is having quite a long break (or better yet, has had) recently because she will be heavily featured Christmas time.

They don't have to write the actors out, just have no scripts with them for a while. It will save time to not come up with a random exit every year. It really annoying with Bianca. I'm glad Shirley is on a break now, it's nice to have a break from characters who are heavily featured. It was reliving when phil had a panto on and was arrested and was absent for a few weeks. Hopefully kellie is next to go on one as she's been heavily featured in recent weeks.

Good for her. I would if I could.

I think it is more noticeable with Linda because they always give a reason to explain it onscreen, that shirley has actually left Albert Square with no return date set up rather than just not featuring her for a month or so but saying she is in the back or gone to spend a few days with Carly. Basically they make it into a big plot point unlike some of the others who just don't appear or are given an innocent explanation for a short absence - like ian taking a holiday with Michelle.

She's taken a big chunk of the Autumn out every year since 2008.

I think her absence is really noticeable

I haven't missed Shirley...

In any believe it's been a year since she went missing; a storyline which built up to the arrival of the rest of the Carters!

By the looks of it, she takes a break in the autumn, I think Linda deserves it! She's a VERY good actress! She isn't constantly shoved down our throats either, which is nice, but like other people have said, when she does appear, she DOES appear, which is great! I love what DTC has done with Shirley, he's turned her into a leading lady and it was such a good move! The Carter's would be nothing without Shirley! She sits at the too of that family tree! I know Pat Butcher can never be replaced, but Shirley is Pat's reincarnation! She had quite a lot of scenes with Pat, and Linda and Pam worked really well together! Shirley is a character with a lot of layers and a big backstory! And now a big family! She's played by a really good actress aswell. Linda Henry aces it everytime! I hope either Linda or Kellie win the NTA award, they both deserve it so much! In so glad Linda has FINALLY been recognised! The character has also made a huge impact, and is extremely popular on social media too!

That was fun. All the speculation about what Carl had done with her, and whether she was dead or alive ...and DTC played along with it on twitter. Her return episode got 8+ mil viewers.

Shirley's absence is noticed because she shot Phil and ran away

Hibernating obviously


I know it's been like party time every episode