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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katherine Heslop

EastEnders' Danielle Harold reflects on exit in sweet tribute to 'mini me' on-screen daughter

EastEnders star Danielle Harold has shared a heart warming tribute to Isabella Brown, who plays her on-screen daughter.

Danielle and Isabella play Lola Pearce and daughter Lexi in the BBC soap, with the pair facing Lola's terminal brain tumour.

In a new post on Instagram, Danielle shared a photo of herself and Max Bowden, who plays Lexi's dad Ben Mitchell, kissing her on the cheek.

The three are decked out in wedding gear, with Danielle wearing a veil.

In the caption, the actress, who has been on EastEnders since 2011, wrote: "I couldn’t of asked for a better mini me this little one makes me so proud everyday."

Danielle Harold shared a sweet picture on Instagram of herself, Isabella and Max (danielle_harold/Instagram)

Fans of the show were in agreement, with one follower writing: "One of the best actors on the show!"

Another wrote: "A star in the making."

A third said: "She's incredible x this storyline is heartbreaking but you have been amazing you all have been x"

In October, Lola was diagnosed with a brain tumour after collapsing and suffering a seizure.

She and husband Jay Brown, played by Jamie Borthwick, are currently on their honeymoon after getting married.

Danielle has previously said she wouldn't rule out a move to the states for her career.

Lola and Lexi are in the midst of a heart-breaking storyline (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

“If Hollywood wants to call, I’m here!” she said at the National Television Awards in October.

“I’ve been for some talks and I’d love to go to LA for pilot season.”

Speaking to the Mirror, Danielle said filming the emotional scenes can be hard, but reckons that if she can help to raise more awareness about brain tumours, and the thousands of people living with them, it will all be worth it.

“It’s hard and emotional, but good to film,” Danielle said. “I just want to get it right.

“You’re putting yourself through what you think that person is feeling – which is nothing compared to what they’re actually going through – but it takes its toll. It’s draining.

“I’m whacked after work. Once I finish for the day, I take a minute to appreciate my own life – and realise how lucky I am.”

Danielle also worked losely with Brain Tumour Research and Macmillan Cancer Support on the storyline.

“I’ve done tonnes of research and met so many families,” she said. “They’ve been crucial.

“When news of the storyline came out, I had so many people get in contact with me. I didn’t realise how many people it affects.

Lola has a terminal brain tumour (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

“It’s not spoken about much so that’s why I’m so glad we’re doing this story, to raise awareness."

Elsewhere on the soap, a flashforward to Christmas Day was aired on Monday.

In the shocking moment, six female characters are stood watching over a dead body on the floor - while the identity of the murder victim is not known.

It's been suggested that all six women - Stacey Slater, Kathy Beale, Suki Panesar, Denise Fox, Linda Carter and Sharon Watts - are suspects, and that one of them has killed the mystery man.

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