Despite being just 21-years-old, Maisie Smith has already had an amazing career in TV, appearing on and off in EastEnders, with stints on Strictly Come Dancing.
The young soap star is in the beginning stages of a whirlwind relationship with The Wanted’s Max George and life is really looking up.
She comes from humble beginnings and despite being a massive success on-screen, she still lives at home with her parents and sister in Westcliff-on-Sea.
We take a look at her fast-track telly career, her seaside home in Essex, why she decided to leave Albert Square and her love life with Stacey Giggs’ ex-boyfriend.
The family home on the coast, owned by mum and dad Julia and Stephen Smith, is often seen in the background of Maisie’s viral TikTok videos.
She lives with her parents and older sister Scarlett and family reportedly live close by as aunt Tracy Southgate and cousin Megan are thought to be located just a stone's throw from the house.
Pictures on Maisie’s Instagram show a cosy outdoor seating area, which looks to be on a balcony – perfect for some seaside relaxation.
The family’s living room can also be seen in one of Maisie’s Instagram posts – revealing a brown leather sofa complete with mismatching pillows, a beige carpet and a wooden table in the background, surrounded by mushroom-coloured studded chairs.
According to Heart Radio, Maisie’s net worth is “somewhere between £760,000 and £3 million” - so a house of her own could be on the cards soon.
Born in Essex in 2001, her first acting break came in 2006 when he secured a role in The Other Boleyn Girl – she later joined EastEnders as Tiffany Dean in 2008.
Her first episode aired on April 1 that year and Maisie proved to be an instant hit with viewers, scooping Best Dramatic Performance From a Young Actor or Actress' at the British Soap Awards in 2009.
She was nominated for the same award in 2010 and 2011. In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Maisie was nominated for 'Best Young Actor' at the Inside Soap Awards. She finally won the award in 2011.
Maisie played Tiffany in the BBC soap from 2008 to 2014, taking a break of four years before re-joining Albert Square full-time in 2018.
Just last year she announced that she was quitting again, with her last episodes airing on December 14 2021 as her character left Walford to go live with her brother Liam in Germany.
"It’s time to say farewell to Tiff,” she said in a statement at the time – following reports that she was leaving the British soap for months.
She added: "I’ve grown up on EastEnders since 2008, and have learnt from the best over the past 13 years. I’m very excited for my next challenge and thank the BBC for the opportunity they gave me as a six-year-old.”
Maisie left EastEnders, for the second time, after her contract came to an end – with speculation that she had other TV projects to pursue.
It was the year before, in 2020, that news broke that she was competing in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.
She was partnered with Gorka Márquez and finished in second place alongside Hrvy and Janette Manrara and Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer, losing to Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
She later appeared in a Christmas special where she danced alongside Kevin Clifton.
It was during her first Strictly appearance that she met The Wanted singer Max George – who was partnered up with Dianne Buswell.
They reportedly grew closer during the Strictly live tour at the beginning of 2022.
Maisie wasn't supposed to be taking part in the tour, but stepped in last-minute to replace injured TV presenter AJ Odudu.
However, it wasn't until August that rumours began swirling about the status of their relationship.
Earlier this year, Max split from Stacey Giggs after the pair rekindled their romance in April following Tom Parker's death.
And it looks like Max moved swiftly on from Stacey after jetting off to Crete, Greece to enjoy some time in the sun with Maisie.
Passengers on the same flight as Maisie and Max told The Sun that the duo were 'all over each other' on the plane.
"They looked like a very loved-up couple — they were all over each other for the entire four-hour flight,” they told the outlet. "Snogging and giggling like any new couple."
Rumours are still very much rife and several tropical holidays have followed their first in Crete.
According to The Sun, Stacey, the ex of football’s Ryan Giggs, confided in a pal, saying: "Max cheated on me with Maisie. I asked him about her but he denied anything had happened.
"He said he was like an uncle to Maisie."
The pair are yet to speak publicly about their rumoured romance, but pictures have shown the pair getting close on several occasions.
Outside of her whirlwind relationship, Maisie's next TV appearance will see her as this year’s youngest contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Also on the star-studded line-up is TOWIE’s Ferne McCann and Pete Wicks, as well as former Strictly pro AJ Pritchard.
Asked why she decided to stay yes to doing the hardcore show, Maisie said: "You know what? I'd seen the show and I remember watching it thinking, 'Wow. What a strong bunch of people'.
"I really just wanted to put my mental and physical strength to the test. I'm very competitive. I've always loved pushing myself and seeing my limits. It's the perfect challenge for me, is what I thought."
She added: "I felt like I was a little kid at school again getting told off. I'm not an argumentative person. So, when they were just shouting at me for completely messing everything up or just doing something really stupid, it was like, 'Oh, God'.
"It is really scary. I feel like I'm getting told off by my mum again as a kid. But they're not doing it to make you feel like crap, they do actually want you to succeed. It’s tough love, I guess," the former soap star added.
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