Lacey Turner, beloved for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders, found inspiration right in her backyard. Growing up in North London, her home was close to the studios where the iconic soap is filmed.
“I used to work on a nearby market stall, and I’d see the stars going in and out of the studios all the time,” Lacey revealed to Inside Soap. “When I arrived on the show, I couldn’t speak to anyone unless they spoke to me. I was petrified as I had been watching these people on the telly for 10 years!”
At just 16, Lacey joined EastEnders in 2004. She initially auditioned for the role of Demi Miller but was deemed a better fit for the Slater family, leading to the creation of Stacey Slater just for her. “I went straight from school to EastEnders, but I had to keep it quiet for about six months, which was just horrible,” she explains. “The first they all knew of it was when I suddenly appeared on TV!”
Her debut was memorable, as she recalls, “The first scene I filmed, I had to kiss Ricky Groves [Garry], which must have been weird for him as he was a grown man and I was a 16-year-old girl.”
After six years of stirring drama in Walford, Lacey left the show to explore new opportunities, including lead roles in Our Girl, Call The Midwife, and the supernatural drama Bedlam. Despite her success, she felt the pull of her EastEnders family. “When I left, I missed the people and the character of Stacey,” she says. “I missed the crew and the quick pace of the show — it’s like a big family. I had a lovely time, but my heart is in EastEnders.”
Inside Soap Special Magazine ‘Icons’ is on sale now. EastEnders continues Monday 17 June on BBC One
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