Stevie Nash is a key part of the team at Holby City hospital – but Casualty actress Elinor Lawless has an equally exciting life.

Elinor has played Stevie – a consultant in emergency medicine – since 2021 but away from the soap, she has been open about her own health battle including something she kept hidden for a very long time.

Elinor will be front and centre of a big standalone special this Christmas, which is all about blood and introduces audiences to several people who urgently need transfusions – as well as sharing the real-life stories that inspired them.

She has now opened up about her own health, revealing she had a congenital heart condition. She explained: “I had a congenital heart condition when I was a kid. I had open heart surgery when I was seven and because of that, I can’t give blood and it bothers me.

“It’s something so beautifully straightforward that we can do for each other and in that situation I was relying on other people to do the thing that I can’t do. I’m here because somebody decided to go to a blood bank that day – that’s just mind boggling.”

Being a mum, Elinor admits she is worried that her son Joe, eight, might one day need blood. She said: “I have a little boy and the idea of losing a loved-one simply because there’s not enough of the thing that would make an instant difference – that’s stuff of horror. I’m grateful that people are doing this up-and-down the country and this episode is a vehicle to help give a message gently, but also to say thank you without shoving it down people’s throats.”

For the actress, she feels like shows like Casualty are great because they show people “at their most vulnerable”.

“I was in and out of hospital loads as a kid so I’m au fait with things like cannulas. I remember that time vividly and you remember the level of care. I remember being in the ambulance on the way to surgery and the amazing nurses – Hazel and Ann were my go-to nurses – and the fantastic Dr Craig and Dr Gladstone. Even at that age I was aware I was in good hands,” she said previously.

“I’m all fixed now. I was checked every year until 21 and they fixed me good. That’s why shows like Casualty are so important. These people get to see us at our most vulnerable.”

Elsewhere in her personal life, Elinor is married to actor Peter Basham. He has appeared in EastEnders, but has also had roles in James Bond hit movie Skyfall as well as starring in detective series Sherlock and hit movie Inception.

With baby Joe, Elinor and Peter had to spend an extra 10 days in hospital when their son was born prematurely.

She explained of what happened with her son: “My little boy was in hospital for ten days and I saw how accomplished and adept the staff are. They looked after my little boy like a nest egg. I have a huge amount of respect for the NHS and it’s an honour to get to create these amazing characters and tell these amazing stories. And for the last couple of years the NHS has been a tour de force. I feel so privileged to be part of a show that shines a light on that.”