Shona McGarty

Shona McGarty is an English actress and singer best known for her 15-year portrayal of Whitney Dean in BBC One’s EastEnders. Warm, engaging and naturally expressive, she has become a familiar face to millions of viewers and a respected face in British entertainment. In 2025, she took on an entirely new challenge as a contestant on ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’, stepping out of Albert Square and into the Australian jungle.

From an early age, Shona showed a flair for performance, spending six years immersed in local amateur musical theatre, including a role in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Her first screen appearance came in 2007 in the short film ‘What Goes Around’. Just a year later, at only sixteen, she landed the life-changing role of Whitney Dean in EastEnders. Portraying one of the show’s most complex and emotional characters demanded maturity beyond her years and cemented her place as one of Britain’s most recognisable soap stars.

During her long career on EastEnders, Shona became a household name, earning numerous award nominations, including for Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards, Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards, and Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards. Beyond acting, she built an impressive music portfolio, performing ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ for BBC Children in Need 2012, and later joining the celebrity ensemble The Celebs to record ‘Rock With Rudolph’ in 2018 and ‘Let It Be’ in 2021 to raise money for charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Mind. After fifteen years on EastEnders, she announced her departure in 2023, with her final episode airing in 2024, before embarking on new ventures in music and entertainment.

Shona draws from her life in front of the camera and her journey beyond it. She speaks with honesty about resilience, personal growth and navigating change in the public eye. Her talks explore the courage it takes to leave stability behind, the importance of mental wellbeing and the confidence to rediscover one’s voice. Audiences leave inspired by her authenticity, humour and belief that reinvention is always possible.