Maisie Smith QUITS EastEnders after Strictly success
She plays Tiffany Butcher on the soap
Last updated 15th Jan 2021
Following her success on the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Maisie Smith has made the decision to leave her role as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders, according to reports.
Maisie, who has portrayed the role for 13 years on and off, reportedly wants to widen her career and attempt to crack the film industry.
A source close to the actress told Mail Online, "Maisie is hugely ambitious and wants to test herself away from soaps.
"Starring in movies is a personal goal and seeing how well Ben and Himesh have done, it’s given her hope she could be the next box office star from EastEnders. The only stumbling block is whether COVID-19 and the knock-on effect of the pandemic will dilute the pool of acting opportunities.
"If it remains bleak, the sensible move might be staying put for another year. But the intention is to leave in October."
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Despite finding herself in the bottom two a number of times during the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing, 19-year-old Maisie had clear talent for dancing, alongside her professional partner Gorka Márquez.
Maisie and Gorka made it all the way to the 2020 final, but the pair missed out on the Glitterball Trophy to comedian Bill Bailey and his pro partner Oti Mabuse.
The actress first joined the cast of EastEnders when she was just six-years-old in April 2008, playing the role of Bianca Jackson's daughter Tiffany.
Despite leaving the show in 2014, Maisie made a guest return in 2016, before returning to the soap full time in January 2018.
Although reports are rife that she's about to leave the soap again, in order to focus on other career projects, both Maisie and EastEnders bosses are yet to comment.
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