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Lacey Turner has recalled her heartache after suffering a miscarriage on the set of EastEnders and said she's finally learned to ‘speak up’ years later.
The actress, 38, said she 'just carried on' in her role as Stacey Slater without telling people what she was going through.
Lacey, who appeared on the BBC soap from 2004-2010 and then again from 2014-2025, added that the working world is not set up for mothers and told how she 'smuggled' her daughter on set.
She said that her daughter was 'partly raised' by her co-stars and soap crew which was a 'lovely' experience.
Lacey is mother to daughter Dusty, seven, son Trilby, five, and daughter Gipsy, 20 months. She is married to her childhood sweetheart Matt Kay.
The Strictly Come Dancing contestant suffered two devastating miscarriages at seven weeks of pregnancy in October 2017 and March 2018 before welcoming her first child.
She told Prima magazine: ‘I had two miscarriages before my children were born… I had a miscarriage on the set of EastEnders. I had become so matter of fact about the subject because I just carried on.
'Looking back, it’s quite sad to know I reacted in such a way. Everyone was so supportive when I told them, and now, I’ve learned to be more in tune and speak up.'
Lacey Turner has recalled the heartache of miscarrying on the set of EastEnders and said her daughter was 'partly raised' by her co-stars and soap crew
The Strictly star said: I had two miscarriages before my children were born… I had a miscarriage on the set of EastEnders. I had become so matter of fact about the subject because I just carried on'
She has since campaigned for better medical aftercare and open conversations surrounding pregnancy loss.
Lacey said: ‘I smuggled my newborn daughter on to the EastEnders set. I don’t think I was allowed, but I wanted to get stuck back in, so she was partly raised by cast members, assistant directors and makeup artists.
'It was lovely to be able to go back to work and have her by my side, which is rare. The world is not set up for mothers to be able to do that.'
She said doing the BBC dance show now could be something of a ‘midlife crisis’ as she approaches the milestone.
Lacey said: '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.
'Maybe it’s a midlife crisis, but I want to show my children that they can do anything they put their mind to.'
During the interview, Lacey also spoke about having a break from EastEnders.
She said: 'For the first time in my life, I’ve had a long-time off work, and it’s been lovely to be with my kids, potter around in my allotment and do things just for me.
'I genuinely love EastEnders and working, so I thought I would get bored during this break, but it’s been so lovely.
'Will I come back to EastEnders? It will always have my heart and will be a big part of me. I love the show. I miss Stacey, so one day, I hope to go back – but when that is, I’m not sure. I just hope they don’t kill her off!'
And talking about why she said yes to Strictly, Lacey said: 'I’ve been asked to do Strictly Come Dancing before.
'I’ve seen co-stars like Jake Wood and Kellie Bright work at the same time as doing the show, and I don’t know how they did it.
Lacey is starring on the new season of Strictly and has been partnered with Vito Coppola
The actress is mother to daughter Dusty, seven, son Trilby, five, and another daughter Gipsy, 20 months, with husband Matt Kay - her childhood sweetheart
Talking about being a working mother, the star, who plays Stacey Slater said: ' I smuggled my newborn daughter on to the EastEnders set. I don’t think I was allowed'
She added: 'I wanted to get stuck back in, so she was partly raised by cast members, assistant directors and makeup artists'
The full interview can be read now in the November issue of Prima, on sale Wednesday 23 September
She said she is nervous about people seeing the 'real' her on the show, saying: 'I’m nervous for people to see more of Lacey.
'I’m opening myself up to people criticising me, not just my character. I’m quite terrified of the whole thing, and while I tap-danced when I was younger, this is very different. I am a bit scared of letting people in, but you can’t live your life in fear.'
Lacey has written a new memoir, called Gold Dust, about the women who have shaped her.
She said: 'I’ve been supported by such strong women at home and work, so it made sense to write about them.
'My mum is amazing, my nan is such a character, my sisters are like my best friends, and I’ve had the same girl friends since I was 13.'
The full interview can be read now in the November issue of Prima, on sale Wednesday 23 September.
Tommy's is a national pregnancy and baby charity and offers advice and support for anyone affected by baby loss. Website: www.tommys.org. Helpline: 0800 0147 800
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