She bears a striking resemblance to actress Sheree Murphy and Emmerdale executive producer Steve Frost chose her to play Sheree's mother in the programme especially for the likeness. She has appeared in the programme since 2002, playing Steph Stokes.

June 30 2006: Lorraine announced that she was to quit Emmerdale and will leave at the end of the year, saying she feels she has taken the character of Steph "as far as she can go", leaving many Emmerdale fans upset at her forthcoming departure. Producer, Kath Beedles said "We are very sorry Lorraine is leaving after four years of fantastic storylines".

In 2000, she was almost killed in a car crash when the car she was driving plummeted 30 foot down a bridge and she had to be cut from the wreckage. She spent four days in hospital with facial injuries and had to have part of her ear sewed back on after it was ripped off.