EastEnders’ Maisie Smith opens up about her body image battle

The actress has left the soap after 13 years

maisie smith

by Hannah Mellin |
Updated on

Maisie Smithhas been on TV screens since she was teeny tiny, playing the character of Tiffany Butcher-Baker for 13 years.

Now all grown-up, the EastEnders star has now opened up about the insecurities she has faced with her body over the years.

The actress, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, has revealed that she has learned to accept herself, but it wasn’t easy.

maisie smith eastenders
©Getty

Speaking to Fabulous magazine, Maisie opened up about her battle with body image and how she would hide her legs whenever she was out.

She honestly revealed, ‘Strictly was a game-changer for me. I’ve always hated my legs and my cellulite. When I was at school, I was the only one who had it. When I went to parties I wouldn’t get my legs out. I would wear trousers all summer.

‘It wasn’t until I did Strictly last year and they literally said: ‘You have got to wear a leotard.’ I was shoved in the deep end and it helped me, because I completely faced my fears straight on.’

Check out: EastEnders stars, who are friends in real life?

Gallery

EastEnders BFFs: 50 best pics of EastEnders stars hanging out in real life

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.17.421 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.17.42

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.18.312 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.18.31

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.18.513 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.18.51

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.19.384 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.19.38

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.21.055 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.21.05

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.23.126 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.23.12

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.25.007 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.25.00

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.25.268 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.25.26

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.27.199 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.27.19

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.28.0710 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.28.07

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.37.5211 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.37.52

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.38.0712 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.38.07

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.39.2313 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.39.23

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.39.4714 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.39.47

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.40.5815 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.40.58

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.41.3816 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.41.38

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.42.1017 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.42.10

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.44.2318 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.44.23

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.46.1519 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.46.15

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.47.4920 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.47.49

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.51.5721 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.51.57

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.52.5222 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.52.52

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.53.2823 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.53.28

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.53.4424 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.53.44

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.55.3925 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.55.39

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.56.2226 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.56.22

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.57.4127 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.57.41

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.58.0028 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 14.58.00

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.01.0929 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.01.09

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.02.2230 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.02.22

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.08.0931 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.08.09

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.09.5932 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.09.59

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.13.4633 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.13.46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.14.3434 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.14.34

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.0035 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.00

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.1736 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.17

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.3837 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.16.38

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.18.2138 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.18.21

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.18.5039 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.18.50

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.20.1840 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.20.18

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.20.3541 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.20.35

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.23.0342 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.23.03

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.24.0943 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 15.24.09

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.47.3744 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.47.37

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.52.1945 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.52.19

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.54.3746 of 46

Screen Shot 2015-07-30 at 16.54.37

Maisie also spoke about how she related to her EastEnders character’s storyline about dabbling with lip fillers and how she has struggled with body image growing up on social media.

She said, ‘I feel pressure all the time. As a teenage girl heavily active on social media, I’ve definitely felt the same [as Tiffany]. I’ve experienced a lot of body-image hatred – not from anyone else, but from me. I put a lot of pressure on myself to look a certain way…

‘I enjoyed that story line, because I completely related to it. I have felt that exact way before, so it was nice to address it. You can think someone’s beautiful, but they don’t see it.’

Maisie is currently ‘unemployed’ after bowing out of the BBC soap earlier this month.

EastEnders fans watched her character Tiffany wait a the tube station for estranged husband Keegan Baker, who never showed up. Tiffany has now officially left Walford to start a new life in Germany.

Watch: Ferne McCann on breaking up with her ex-boyfriend and her heartbreak plan | First Time Mum Secrets

MORE NEWS:

Taking to Instagram to say goodbye to her time in the soap, the actress wrote, “Wow. EastEnders you have been a dream ❤️ lotta tears, lotta laughs and a whole lotta love. Episode 685 complete. Farewell Tiffany Butcher-Baker.”

The beloved character has been been at the centre of many big storylines over the years. From her close relationship with her older sister Whitney Dean, to being groomed by the evil Evie Steele and her turbulent relationship and later marriage to Keegan Baker.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us