From the glossy pages of The Sun to the gritty sets of Emmerdale, Lusardi has built a career spanning five decades. Now, in a surprising pivot that has captivated her followers, she is picking up a caulking gun instead of a swimsuit, proving that reinvention is possible at any age.
Her story is one of resilience. After a near-death health crisis, Lusardi has not only recovered but redefined what success looks like, trading the pressures of the beauty industry for the practical satisfaction of home renovation and the cheers of a pantomime audience.
What Is Linda Lusardi Doing Now?
67 (as of July 2026)
Actress, TV presenter, former glamour model, DIY influencer
Married to actor Sam Kane
$1–5 million (unverified)
- Gained 134,000 Instagram followers by showcasing DIY skills including tiling, caulking, wallpapering, and woodworking.
- Television producers and publishers have approached her; a potential show or book may materialize in 2026.
- Announced a new show launching in early 2026 with a close friend.
- Performed in Sleeping Beauty at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in April 2025 and plans a return in Easter 2026.
- Received her first state pension payment in 2025, describing it as covering groceries while her private pension covers electricity.
- Attended the Best Heroes Awards 2025 at The Waldorf Hilton in London on October 16, 2025.
- Publicly shared concerns about women losing too much weight, urging balance in health and beauty.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Linda Frances Elide Lusardi |
| Date of Birth | 18 September 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Palmers Green, London, England |
| Age | 67 (as of July 2026) |
| Occupation | Actress, TV presenter, former glamour model |
| Known For | Page 3 modeling, Emmerdale, The Bill, stage roles |
| Husband | Sam Kane (m. 1998) |
| Children | 1 daughter (Lucy) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–5 million (speculative) |
| Health Crisis | Hospitalized with Covid-19 in December 2020 |
Is Linda Lusardi Still Married? Her Relationship History
Yes, Linda Lusardi is still married. She wed former Coronation Street actor Sam Kane in 1998, and the couple remain together. They frequently collaborate on stage, particularly in pantomimes, and continue to share a professional and personal partnership.
Public records confirm that Sam Kane is her only husband. There is no evidence of a previous marriage. The couple has a daughter, Lucy, who recently began joining them on stage, marking a new family chapter in their stage work.
Despite some online speculation, multiple recent sources including a 2025 interview with the Mirror confirm Lusardi is married to Sam Kane. They have been together since 1998 and remain a team both at home and on stage.
Linda Lusardi’s Career: From Page 3 to Acting
Page 3 Beginnings
Lusardi rose to national fame as a Page 3 glamour model in the 1980s. Her iconic photo spreads made her one of the most recognizable faces in British tabloid culture. She has since stated that “life is too brief to obsess over appearances” and has scaled back modeling work.
Television and Stage
Her acting career includes a notable run on Emmerdale (2007–2008) as Carrie Nicholls, the mother of Tom King’s secret child. She also appeared in The Bill, Hollyoaks, and Brookside. In 2007, she finished sixth on Dancing on Ice.
Theatre work has been a constant. She has starred in over 25 pantomimes, including Sleeping Beauty and Not Now, Darling, often touring with her husband. Her most recent stage appearance was in April 2025 at the Blackburn Empire Theatre.
Lusardi has moved from swimwear modeling to DIY influencing and stage performance, finding “freedom from beauty pressures” at age 66. Her Instagram presence now focuses on practical skills rather than glamour.
Latest Projects
In late 2025, Lusardi announced plans to launch a new show with a close friend in early 2026. She also performed in Mandy (2024) as a guest role. Television producers and publishers have approached her regarding a potential show or book based on her DIY content.
Linda Lusardi’s Net Worth and Financial Overview
Verified figures for Linda Lusardi’s net worth are not publicly available. Celebrity net worth websites offer estimates ranging from $1 million to $5 million, but these figures are speculative and lack authoritative confirmation.
Lusardi herself has offered no public statement regarding her total wealth. In 2025, she did share that her first state pension payment covers her groceries while her private pension covers electricity, providing a glimpse into her personal financial landscape.
Linda Lusardi’s Family: Daughter and Personal Life
Linda and Sam Kane have one daughter, Lucy, who recently joined her parents on stage. Lusardi has stated that she declined lucrative work opportunities to prioritize family time, reflecting the shift in her life priorities after her health scare.
She is also a patron of the Willow Foundation and the Rhys Daniels Trust, continuing a long history of charity work that has been part of her public life.
Timeline of Key Life Events
- 1958: Born in Palmers Green, London, England.
- 1976: Began modeling career, including Page 3.
- 1980s: Became one of the most famous Page 3 models in the UK.
- 1998: Married actor Sam Kane.
- 2007: Appeared on Dancing on Ice (finished sixth).
- 2007–2008: Played Carrie Nicholls on Emmerdale.
- December 2020: Hospitalized with severe Covid-19; prepared for death but survived.
- 2025: Received first state pension; became DIY influencer on Instagram.
- 2026: Plans new show launch and Easter pantomime at Blackburn Empire Theatre.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Date of birth and early career facts are well-documented via Wikipedia. | Net worth: No verified figures exist; all estimates are speculative. |
| Married to Sam Kane since 1998; they have a daughter named Lucy. | Current career projects beyond pantomime: no major recent acting roles reported. |
| Serious Covid-19 infection in December 2020. | No official confirmation of any second marriage or spouse change. |
What Does Linda Lusardi’s Career Change Mean?
Linda Lusardi represents a generation of glamour models who successfully transitioned into mainstream acting. Her Page 3 fame in the 1980s was a cultural phenomenon, and her later roles in popular British soaps gave her enduring name recognition. The public’s continued interest in her personal life reflects a broader fascination with celebrity relationships and aging stars.
Her health battle with Covid-19 highlighted the vulnerability of celebrities and added a human-interest dimension to her story. Her decision to pivot to DIY content and stage performance marks a deliberate move away from beauty pressures and toward a more grounded, family-focused existence.
Her daughter Lucy joining her on stage suggests a family tradition being passed to the next generation, a rare and positive narrative in an entertainment industry often focused on youth and novelty.
Sources and Verified Quotes
“Linda is currently ‘living life to the fullest’ with a focus on family, DIY, and stage work, having stepped back from the intense public eye of her modeling past.”
— Multiple sources including Mirror and htb60.com
“She has stated she recently declined lucrative work to prioritize family time.”
— Mirror interview (2025)
Summary: Linda Lusardi in 2025–2026
Linda Lusardi, now 67, has reinvented herself as a DIY influencer with 134,000 Instagram followers, a pantomime performer, and a pension recipient five years after surviving a near-death Covid-19 infection. She remains married to actor Sam Kane and is focusing on family, stage work, and home renovation content.
For more on other British entertainers who have navigated public life and career shifts, read the Melanie Sykes – Health Battle, Personal Life, Career Shift.
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Vanessa Cole is Editor-in-Chief at StoryNative.uk, overseeing editorial policy, corrections, standards, celebrity privacy and publication decisions.