EastEnders cast: Laila Morse returns as Big Mo - but her name has a shock hidden meaning
EASTENDERS’ Big Mo comes back with bang tonight in the BBC One soap, however, viewers might not know there is an intriguing hidden meaning behind the name of the actress who plays the character.
EastEnders: Kat Slater return in shocking trailer
Laila Morse, who plays Big Mo, returns to screens tonight as the Slater clan slowly begin to congregate once more on EastEnders.
However, some fans of the BBC soap may not be aware that Laila’s name has a hidden meaning.
“Laila Morse” is an anagram for “mia sorella” which is Italian for “my sister”.
The moniker is the stage name for the actress, who was born as Maureen Oldman.
EastEnders cast: Laila Morse returns as Big Mo in tonight's episode
The actress is in fact the sister to Oscar winner Gary Oldman, and the nickname was given to the 72-year-old by a girlfriend of his.
Italian actress Isabella Rossellini reportedly bestowed the name on her when she was dating Gary, 59.
Tonight, Laila returns as Big Mo with the terrible news that Kat (played by Jessie Wallace) has died, however, things are far more complex than they first appear.
Initially, Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) will have several missed calls from the Slater matriarch, leaving her feeling worried about what could have happened to her.
EastEnders cast: Laila Morse's real name is Maureen Oldman
However, the mother-of-three eventually finds Mo sitting on her sofa, where she tells her the terrible news.
Although, as a trailer released last week teased, Kat isn’t really dead and looks set to turn up at her own wake in the Queen Vic.
It looks as though Mo could really know the truth about Kat, as the actress has teased Mo has got herself into a spot of bother.
Laila teased: “Dear old Mo, she’s in a lot of trouble.
EastEnders cast: Stacey Fowler will find Big Mo in her home
“She’s a very evil lady. If she was one of my relatives, I think I might do her in!”
The actress went on to tell Radio Times: “Mo doesn’t give a monkey’s what she does as long as she’s earning a few quid.
“She’d sell her own grandmother if she had one.”
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.