EastEnders transformations – unrecognisable, career U-turn, dancing sensation

EastEnders burst onto our screens for the very first time on February 19, 1985.

The iconic BBC One soap opera has been a staple in British culture for 38 years, or 13,866 days if you want to be more precise.

Revolving around the working-class residents of Albert Square, a fictional place situated in the East End of London, viewers tune into the soap in their masses every night as the characters struggle to face the challenges of everyday life.

With relatable characters and storylines, it's no wonder this soap has become one of the best-loved shows on TV.

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38 years since it first aired on our screens, Daily Star has decided to take a look at some of the biggest transformations.

From actors and actresses looking unrecognisable, to some even making huge career U-turns…

Jamie Mitchell

The actor who played heartthrob Jamie Mitchell looks very different almost 21 years on from his tragic demise.

Jack Ryder was just 17 years of age when he took on the role of Jamie in the beloved BBC One soap.

He played the role from 1998 to 2002 and was even hailed as "a mini David Beckham" because of his floppy hair and chiselled good looks.

In the soap Jamie was killed off in a brutal and heart-breaking storyline that played out on Christmas day in 2002.

But in 2023, the actor, who is now in his forties, looks very different after making a bit of a career U-turn.

With shorter hair in a grey hue, often complimented by matching stubble on his face – fans can't believe how much he has changed over the years.

Underneath one recent snap posted in October, fans flocked to the comments section, with one writing: "Yikes I cant believe how old he looks."

More recently he has been working as a film and theatre director, as well as publishing his first kids' novel – Jack’s Secret Summer with Hachette Children's Group.

Bradley Branning

Bradley Branning was Max Branning's son in the BBC One soap, who was portrayed by Charlie Clements.

In the soap he was the love of Stacey Slater's life from 2006 until 2010, before being brutally killed off in EastEnders' 25th anniversary special almost 13 years ago.

Not only has the beloved actor had a bit of a career U-turn, but he looks quite different to when he was in the soap.

In June 2022 the Bradley star posted a selfie on Instagram to mark his birthday.

Announcing that he had turned 35, the actor-turned-chef looked very different as he posed for the photo.

With a fuller jawline and glasses, Charlie left fans taken aback with his snap.

Not only does he look different, but he has also made a huge career U-turn with the soap favourite putting on his chef's whites and cooking up a storm.

Appearing on Loose Women in 2021, Charlie spoke of becoming a chef to support his family.

He said: "At the end of the day the kids and the family come first. I've never been afraid of work and never been work shy."

"Acting is always my first love and will always be my career choice but at the end of the day I've got bills to pay and a family to support like everyone else."

Lucy Beale

Melissa Suffield was at the helm of the role of Lucy Beale from 2004 until 2010.

The stunning blonde beauty, who is now 30, looks very different from her stint of playing Ian Beale's daughter.

Giving birth to her son River in 2020, Melissa has rebranded herself as the "confident mama", with the actress becoming a content creator, positive body image advocate and self love influencer.

Posting stunning snaps in lingerie to promote self love and acceptance, Melissa has amassed a whopping 55,000 followers on Instagram.

Last summer Melissa spoke to us in conversation about postpartum weight gain, where she openly admitted that she gained weight after giving birth.

"So long after being pregnant [with her son River] I was actually gaining weight, and it was a tough cookie to swallow for a little while.

"But I just went 'oh my god, it's actually fine, actually the world's not ended, actually it's fine."

Vicki Fowler

Scarlett Alice Johnson looks worlds away from her character Vicki Fowler almost 19 years after she departed the BBC soap.

She played the role of the daughter of Dirty Den Watts and Michelle Fowler from 2003 when she took over the role from a different actress.

Over two years of playing Vicki and after starring in an impressive 194 episodes, Vicki left the square in 2004 to join her mother in America.

But these days the actress looks worlds away from iconic character.

Ditching her iconic brunette locks which were styled into an ultra short pixie haircut, she now has longer locks, blonde highlights and looks very different indeed.

Since leaving Albert Square, Scarlett has kept her acting career going, with her popping ip in Channel 4 comedy series Pete Versus Life and Beaver Falls, as well as movies Adulthood and Panic Button.

But her most well-known role since leaving EastEnders was when she took on the portrayal of Laura Derbyshire in the BBC Three sitcom Pramface, for three years.

Tiffany Butcher

Maisie Louise Collender Smith played the role of a very young and sassy Tiffany Butcher in the hit soap opera.

She first appeared in the BBC One show in 2008 as Bianca Jackson's daughter, remaining in the soap until 2014.

After her exit, she made a comeback as Tiffany in 2018, joining the soap full-time and striking up a romance with Keegan Baker.

Getting hitched to Keegan and fast becoming a fan favourite again in the soap, Maisie devastated fans when in October 2021 it was announced that she would once again be leaving EastEnders.

Her final scenes aired in December 2021 but she came back and made a one-off appearance in March 2022 to aid the departure of Keegan.

Looking worlds away from the young Tiffany she portrayed in 2008, Maisie has had a huge transformation into a total glamorous dancing sensation.

Shacked up with The Wanted's Max George after they met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, Maisie is all loved up and has even segued from acting into dancing.

Since placing as a runner up in 2020 on Strictly, Maisie has gone on to make her musical theatre debut in Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, playing Fran.

She was also one of the four finalists who completed Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2022.

These days she can be found on-stage dancing, on Instagram posting sizzling snaps, or loved-up with her hunky beau.

Billie Jackson

Devon Anderson portrayed Billie – Bianca Jackson's half brother in the hit soap 1993 until 1997.

In 2004 though, Bluey Robinson took on the role, before Devon was at the helm again when he made his second and final comeback as Carol Jackson's son in 2010 for a short stint.

In a heart-breaking alcohol poisoning storyline that same year, Billie downed a bottle of vodka before falling asleep on the sofa and sadly dying in his sleep after choking on his own vomit.

But these days, the actor who portrayed Billie looks very different from his soap role almost 13 years ago.

London-born actor Devon is now 35 years of age and classes himself as an "actor extraordinaire" as per his Instagram bio.

Making a slight career U-turn, Devon now co-hosts a podcast called Well Seasoned – which is described as "saucey, spicy and sometimes a likkle bit salty" – alongside pal and Liverpool-born musician Shak Omar.

And not only has he switched up his career, but he looks very different too.

Sporting a full head of mid-length brown hair with a beard and tach, the Billie actor looks very different to when he starred in the soap.

READ NEXT:

• Only Fools and Horses' biggest transformations – care home, cancer and dramatic new look

• EastEnders' Heather Trott star unrecognisable as she reunites with co-star

• EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy teases new storyline for Sonia as fans beg for career U-turn

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