EastEnders actress Lacey Turner has disclosed that she experienced two miscarriages before the birth of her children, with one occurring while she was on the set of the BBC soap. Turner, who portrays Stacey Slater, shared the details in a recent interview with Prima magazine, as she embarks on her participation in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The actress, who is partnered with professional dancer Vito Coppola on the show, recalled that she “just carried on” working after the miscarriage on set, a reaction she now views as “quite sad” in hindsight. She acknowledged that she had become “so matter of fact about the subject” at the time and reflected on the emotional impact of that response.
Support from EastEnders colleagues
Turner expressed gratitude for the support she received from those around her during the difficult period. Speaking to Prima, she said: “Everyone was so supportive when I told them, and now, I’ve learned to be more in tune and speak up.” The actress’s comments were also reported by The Sun.
In addition to discussing her personal experiences, Turner admitted to feeling “nervous” about joining the Strictly Come Dancing cast, noting that the show will expose her to public scrutiny in a way she has not previously faced. “I’m nervous for people to see more of Lacey. I’m opening myself up to people criticising me, not just my character,” she said.
Facing fears on the dance floor
Turner, who will turn 40 soon, explained that her decision to take part in the competition is part of a broader effort to step outside her comfort zone. “I’m nearly 40 and I want to start doing things I’m scared of. I want to go out of my comfort zone and push myself to see what I’m capable of,” she stated, adding that she is “quite terrified of the whole thing” despite having tap-danced as a child.
The actress, who joined EastEnders in 2004 at the age of 16, left the show in 2010 and returned in 2014. She remained with the soap until her departure in 2025, when her character Stacey Slater moved to Brazil. An EastEnders spokeswoman told The Sun: “We can confirm that Lacey will be off-screen later this year, but there is plenty of more drama to come beforehand,” and added that they “will look forward to planning Stacey’s return when Lacey decides the time is right.”
Return to Walford not imminent
Turner confirmed that now is “just not the right time” to return to EastEnders, but she hopes to go back to the role in the future. The full interview with Turner appears in Prima’s November issue, which is set to be available for purchase from Wednesday, September 23.
