EastEnders actress Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts, opened up on the tough rules on the set of the soap when she first starred in it.
She has been in the BBC show since it started in 1985, when she was just 18.
At the time, show creator Julia Smith was still at the helm, and Letitia revealed she was extremely strict with the young actors.
She also claimed Julia banned the girls from wearing make up, and if she caught them wearing it she would wipe it off with a wet flannel.
Letitia talked about the pressures of fame on the Secrets From The Square show, hosted by Stacey Dooley and joined by Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale.
Letitia said she felt that it was harder now for young actors with the advent of social media, but said she was viciously fat-shamed when she was younger.
"I think it's probably harder for the youngsters today, it's a very different time now with social media and all that business.
"I had quite a lot of horrible things said about me.
"'She's too fat, she other actors complain they can't fit on the same set with her'."
Adam added: "It was just vile, and it wouldn't be accepted now."
Letitia also revealed other secrets such as the infamous slap from Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) was in fact a real slap.
She also joked about Sharon's steamy sex scenes with Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), quipping: "It was hard work, but someone has to do it."
Plus, she opened up on the lie she told at her audition, pretending she was really from the East End, like the advert required, when in fact she was from Buckinghamshire.
EastEnders airs Secrets From The Square on Mondays at 8pm, and classic episodes on Tuesdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
