Nicola starred as Mandy in EastEnders between 1992 and 1994 before returning in 2011 (Image: BBC)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeEastEnders fans will remember Nicola Stapleton best for her stint as troubled teen Mandy Salter, who made her mark on Albert Square back in the nineties – but now the ex soap star has been spotted out ahead of her 50th birthday and she looks no different! The actress, who turns 50 next month, was spotted walking through London’s Chinatown in a beige air force-style jacket with her phone in one hand and a vape in the other. Despite approaching a landmark birthday, Nicola has hardly aged since she last appeared in Walford. The former BBC star made her debut as Mandy Salter in 1992, living with Pat Butcher and being involved in storylines such as blackmailing Ian Beale, spreading rumours that Kathy Beale is abusing her and causing the demise of Steve Elliot’s relationship with Hattie Tavernier. Nicola left the soap in 1994 and later returned for a year in 2011.
Nicola Stapleton has been spotted walking in London ahead of her 50th birthday
(Image: TOPSTAR-WJ Images / BACKGRID)
During her return to the Square, Mandy became engaged to Ian Beale and had an affair with Ricky Butcher. She left in 2012 after realising that she never truly loved Ian. Outside of EastEnders, Nicola has appeared in casualty, ITV prison drama Bad Girls as Janine Nebeski and Emmerdale as Danielle Hutch. Since leaving the BBC soap in 2011, she started voicing Rosie in Thomas & Friends and took on roles in Fall of The Krays, White Gold and London Kills. Back in 2014, Nicola gave birth to her son Ray with partner David Luck. BBC One’s EastEnders is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year – with many fans hoping that a number of stars will reprise their iconic roles, including Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell. One fan wrote on social media: “I what back on EastEnders to 40th anniversary is Max / Shirley / Carly / Grant on @bbceastenders #EastEnders.”
Nicola is best known for playing Mandy in EastEnders
(Image: BBC)
Speaking about the upcoming special, executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “We’ve got quite a few treats coming up. The 40th anniversary has been in the works for quite some time. It is about celebrating the history of the show. “I think the nostalgic element of EastEnders means a lot. We don’t bring characters back just because it gets a lovely reaction. It all depends on the story where the characters are. It has to be right for the character and come from a good story.” Although fans may be waiting a long time for Danny Dyer to return as Mick Carter after the ex EastEnders star revealed that the soap nearly killed his career. “I suppose I was crossed off every casting list,” he said. “You forget that when you go into a soap, you don’t exist any more within the industry. It brings you stability and all these things and it’s a great platform when they get it right, but you don’t exist – you’re not considered for any other work.” EastEnders continues tonight at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnEastEnders
