Tanya Franks has been starring on stage and screen for over 30 years. Her most notable television roles include Broadchurch, Sharon Horgan’s comedy Pulling, and as Tanya Branning’s sister, Rainie Cross, in EastEnders since 2007 in which she is currently a regular.
Tanya is running the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon to raise money for Dementia Revolution (a collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s UK), a cause close to the heart of EastEnders as Dame Barbara Windsor is living with the disease. Last year, Barbara asked if any of the cast would run with her husband Scott Mitchell to support the charity. “I signed up, and that’s where my running started,” says Tanya. “I have experience of Alzheimer’s as my stepfather has the disease and I want to raise as much money as possible for research and also for supporting people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and their carers – the charities provide amazing support, but more awareness and funding is needed.”