Former EastEnders favourite Maisie Smith has opened up about a potential return to the iconic BBC soap. Currently on a UK tour with Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds, Maisie caught up with Closer Magazine where she dished out details about staying in contact with her previous co-stars from Albert Square.
“I keep in touch with pretty much everyone,” she revealed. “I talk to Natalie [Cassidy] a lot. With social media, everyone’s got their own lives, so we try to keep up to speed by sending each other updates on everything.”
Maisie, who first graced the screen in the soap 16 years ago at just six-years-old, has left an indelible mark as Tiffany. Reflecting on her initial debut, The Basildon Echo recalls a candid conversation with her mother Julia: “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,” reports Plymouth Live.
Her stint on EastEnders began in 2008 and continued until 2014, punctuated by occasional reappearances. March 2022 saw Tiffany’s latest visit to Walford end when she departed for Germany alongside Keegan Baker.
Maisie hints at the ease of a comeback owing to her deep ties with the show’s characters. Reflecting on her character’s history, she admits: “I went back to EastEnders a few years ago, briefly,”.
The actress has a strong affection for the show, stating: “It’s sort of the place that you never truly leave. There’s always family there to return to, so I would go back.”
Her experience on EastEnders played a significant role in her education as an actress.
In an interview with The Stage, Maisie shared: “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.”
She added: “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.”
Maisie credited her time on the show for teaching her valuable lessons beyond what she learned at stage school, emphasising the importance of hands-on experience on set. She also fondly remembered her time working with Patsy Palmer, who played her on-screen mother, saying: “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.”
Maisie additionally praised other cast members, including Pam St Clement, who played Pat Butcher, saying: “Everyone is really nice… Pam St Clement 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.”
Although Patsy had once dismissed the idea of returning to Walford, she has since been lured back several times, including for a thrilling 40th anniversary episode. Who knows, maybe next time she’ll be back alongside her on-screen daughter.
