Maisie Smith | |
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Born | Maisie Louise Collender Smith 9 July 2001 Westcliff, Essex, England |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2006–present |
Television | EastEnders Strictly Come Dancing |
Website | officiallymaisie |
Maisie Louise Collender Smith [1] (born 9 July 2001) [2] is an English actress and singer. She appeared in the feature film The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and played the regular role of Tiffany Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2008 to 2014. In November 2016, Smith temporarily returned to EastEnders for a guest stint, before making a full-time return in January 2018. In October 2021 it was announced that she would once again be leaving EastEnders and her final scenes aired in December of that year; she made a one-off appearance in March 2022 to aid the departure of Keegan Baker (Zack Morris). [3] In 2020, she competed in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside partner Gorka Marquez, reaching the final but losing out to Bill Bailey.
Smith attended the Singer Stage School in Leigh-on-Sea for 18 months, [4] and in 2006, she was cast in the film The Other Boleyn Girl as a young Elizabeth I; the film was released in February 2008. [5] [6] She then went on to portray the role of Tiffany Dean in the BBC soap opera EastEnders . Smith made her first appearance on the soap on 1 April 2008, at age six, as the daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). Her mother stated "The role is an exaggeration of her own personality, she's a little madam. A lively character both on and off screen. The difference is, she's told to pronounce her t's at home! She is not star-struck at all and has her feet very firmly on the ground. She is an extremely confident child and a great actress." [4] Smith's father said, "She gets recognised quite a lot when we go out as a family. It's funny when you see people nudge each other and you can hear them saying, ‘Is that the girl off EastEnders?’" [7]
A few months after her casting, Smith said that she was loving being on EastEnders, telling the Echo (Essex) "I love being on EastEnders. I really get on with Patsy who plays my mum. She looks after me so well. It's like I'm her real daughter some days. Everyone is really nice. Pam St Clement, who plays Pat Butcher, is also really lovely to me. I’m glad I get to be cheeky and say some funny lines. I would never want to be a goody goody. It's strange people point at me in the street now and ask if I’m the girl from EastEnders. All my friends think it's great I’m on television. I think I will want to be an actress forever now." [7]
Digital Spy's Kris Green said Smith is "brilliant" and "one...to watch", comparing her to Ellis Hollins, the award-winning child actor who plays Tom Cunningham in the Channel 4 teen soap opera Hollyoaks . [8] She has also been praised by stage school teacher Sandra Singer, who said, "Maisie has the most incredible memory and when it comes to script work she is fantastic. It is often very difficult for a six-year-old to act, but she handles it really well and adores it." [4]
In 2010, Smith was asked to appear on CITV's Bookaboo , and read the story Stinky by Ian Whybrow. Smith told CITV "You have to be quiet in libraries which is really hard for me as I'm very loud. I would probably come last in a 'who can stay quiet the longest' competition!" [9] In 2011, Smith was interviewed by The Stage magazine where she talked about her role in EastEnders. Smith said, "Sudden fame can be tricky when you are just out having fun and people keep wanting to take your photo, but the EastEnders people are very supportive and have said that we can politely say no in situations where we feel uncomfortable. I am very glad that my break came with EastEnders, as they are like a family who look after you. Working on the show has given me the chance to learn so much from the actors, especially those who are in my TV family. There are lots of things you can only learn from actually working on a set. The stage school I attend –also Singer Stage School – prepares you really well, but it is so different when you are actually there on set being filmed." [10]
In October 2016, it was announced Smith would be releasing her first single, "Good Thing". [11] Smith shot a music video accompanying the song at the Belt Craft studios and the song and video was uploaded to Smith's YouTube channel in November 2016. [12] Smith released her second single, "Where My Heart Is", in March 2017. Smith said a lot of her songs were about herself, so she "wanted to write a song that inspired others" and she hopes "that got across" and that it "manages to inspire those who listen". [13] On 3 November 2016, Smith made a previously unannounced temporary return to EastEnders. Smith returned full-time in January 2018. [14] [15]
In September 2020, it was announced that she would be competing in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing . [16] She was partnered with Gorka Márquez. [17] In December 2020, they finished in second place alongside Hrvy & Janette Manrara and Jamie Laing & Karen Hauer, after losing out to Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
In May 2022, it was announced Smith would be making her musical theatre debut in Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, playing Fran.
In October 2022, Smith was one of four finalists who completed series 4 of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins . [18]
In April 2024, Smith was cast as Beth, the Parson's Wife in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds for the 2025 The Spirit of Man tour. [19]
Smith lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, with her parents and sister. Smith attended Belfairs Academy in Leigh-on-Sea and the Sandra Singer Stage School. [10] Smith attended South Essex College, where she studied musical theatre. [20] As of September 2022 [update] , she is in a relationship with singer Max George. [21]
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
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2009 | The British Soap Awards | Best Dramatic Performance for a Young Actor or Actress | EastEnders | Won | [22] |
2010 | The British Soap Awards | Best Dramatic Performance for a Young Actor or Actress | Nominated | [23] | |
2010 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Nominated | [24] | |
2011 | The British Soap Awards | Best Young Performance | Nominated | [25] | |
2011 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Won | [26] | |
2012 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Shortlisted | [27] | |
2013 | The British Soap Awards | Best Young Performance | Nominated | [28] | |
2013 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Won | [29] | |
2018 | The British Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Nominated | [30] | |
2018 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Shortlisted | [31] | |
2019 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated | [32] | |
2019 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Soap Actor (Female) | Fourth | [33] | |
2020 | I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Partnership (shared with Zack Morris) | Nominated | [34] | |
2023 | The Stage Debut Awards | Best Performer in a Musical | Strictly Ballroom: The Musical | Pending | [35] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2008 | The Other Boleyn Girl | Young Elizabeth | Film |
2008–2014, 2016, 2018–2022 | EastEnders | Tiffany Butcher | Series regular |
2010 | EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford | Tiffany Butcher | Straight-to-DVD |
2015 | Released from Fear: A Restorative Justice Story | Lauren | Short film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2022 | Strictly Ballroom: The Musical | Fran | Churchill Theatre, Bromley / tour |
Year | Title | Notes |
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2008 | EastEnders: Ricky and Bianca | Special |
2009–2014, 2018–2019 | The British Soap Awards | Award winner and nominee |
2009 | Children in Need | EastEnders special |
2010 | EastEnders Live: The Aftermath | Documentary |
2011 | Bookaboo | Guest star |
2011 | Comic Relief | Guest star for EastEnders |
2011 | EastEnders Revealed | Episode: "Whitney's Story" |
2016 | Loose Women | 1 episode |
2020 | EastEnders: Secrets from the Square | Episode: "Tiffany, Keegan and Karen" |
2020 | Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant; series 18 |
2022 | Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins | Contestant; series 4 |
2023 | The Chase Celebrity Special | Contestant; Series 13 Episode 7 [36] |
Title | Details |
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Where My Heart Is |
|
Title | Year | Director(s) |
---|---|---|
"Good Thing" | 2016 | Mark Potter |
"Where My Heart Is" | 2017 |
Liam Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sonny Bottomley for two months in 1998 and 1999, twins Jack and Tom Godolphin from 1999, Gavin and Mitchell Vaughan in 2002, and Nathaniel Gleed from 2002 to 2004. Upon his reintroduction in 2008, the character was portrayed by James Forde. Liam is the son of Bianca Jackson and Ricky Butcher and his stories have mostly revolved around his family. The character took a six-month break in 2012 for story purposes. Following his return, producers used Liam in a story about gangs, working with the charity Comic Relief. Forde was written out permanently in 2015 and Liam departs in the episode first broadcast on 17 August 2015. Liam was reintroduced for a short stint in 2021, with the role recast to Alfie Deegan.
Bianca Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders played by Patsy Palmer. The character was introduced by executive producer Leonard Lewis and appeared initially from 1993 to 1999, when Palmer opted to leave. In 2002 executive producer John Yorke brought the character back for a special spin-off show. She returned to EastEnders as a full-time character in April 2008, reintroduced by executive producer Diederick Santer. Palmer took maternity leave in late 2010 and Bianca left the series in January 2011. The character returned in December 2011 after Palmer signed a "working mums" contract, which granted her leave from the soap between April and November 2012. The actress quit EastEnders for good in 2014 and Bianca departed on 12 September 2014. Palmer reprised the role on 2 September 2019 for a guest stint and a second guest stint was scheduled for 2020, but later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 13 January 2024, it was announced that Bianca will return to EastEnders in the spring for a short stint to collide with the departure of her adopted daughter Whitney Dean. The character returned for 23 episodes; initially two episodes between 4 March and 5 March 2024, and again from 29 April 2024 until 12 June 2024. It was later announced in August of the same year Bianca would be returning again to tie in with the return of her father David Wicks.
Mandy Salter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nicola Stapleton. Introduced on 12 March 1992 by producer Leonard Lewis, Mandy was portrayed as a teenage tearaway. She was featured in storylines about teenage homelessness, child abuse and recreational drug taking. Her relationship with Aidan Brosnan was one of the prominent storylines featured in 1993. Due to the character's antagonistic behaviour, it has been suggested that Mandy was one of the most hated characters on television during her initial tenure. The character appeared in a special episode of Doctor Who in 1993, which was set in the fictional soap setting of Walford. Stapleton left the role and Mandy departed on-screen on 13 January 1994. Stapleton returned to the role for a nine-month stint on 29 August 2011, and left again on 31 May 2012.
Lindsey Coulson is an English actress, known for her portrayal of Carol Jackson on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For this, she won the 2000 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance. Other roles include Cheryl in Manchild (2002–2003), DC Rosie McManus in Murder Investigation Team (2003–2005), DCI Sarah Tanner in Bulletproof (2018–2021), and Penny Armstrong in The Bay (2019–2021). Coulson's film credits include AKA (2003) and Funny Cow (2017).
Natalie Joy Robb is a Scottish actress and singer. She played the roles of Gemma Clewes in EastEnders, Trish McDonald in the Scottish Television soap opera Take the High Road (1990–1999) and Jude Carlyle in the BBC soap opera Doctors (2001–2004). Since 2009, she has portrayed the role of Moira Barton in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Her other television roles include Dream Team (2000–2001) and The Bill (2004–2005).
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"EastEndersLive" is a live episode of the British television soap opera EastEnders, broadcast on BBC One on 19 February 2010. It was also simulcast to Irish viewers on RTÉ One. The episode was commissioned as part of the show's 25th anniversary celebrations, and was the first EastEnders episode to be broadcast live. It was the series' 3,952nd episode, and was written by Simon Ashdown, directed by Clive Arnold and produced by Diederick Santer. The episode concludes a "Whodunit" storyline "Who Killed Archie?", about the murder of Archie Mitchell, revealing his killer to be Stacey Slater. It also sees the exit of Charlie Clements as Stacey's husband Bradley Branning, who dies after falling from the roof of The Queen Victoria public house.
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