EastEnders star reveals secret link to soap co-stars – but can you guess who?
Ellie Dadd, 20, revealed she crossed paths with two of her co-stars long before landing her big break on the BBC One soap.
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The star joined EastEnders three years ago as troubled teen Amy Mitchell.
She has taken on some of the toughest storylines as the troubled teen - from self-harm to mental health struggles.
But now the young star is ready for something very different that's worlds away from soapland.
This Christmas, Ellie will be swapping the drama of Walford for the magic of panto, taking centre stage as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Fairfield Halls.
Ellie's no stranger to the panto spotlight - as she reveals she's already a seasoned pro.
She told the Mirror: "I started panto when I was six. I did it for four years, age six to 10. It was the best time ever.
"Isn't it every girl's dream to play a princess at least once in their lives?"
And she even met her future co-stars Tilly Keeper (who played Louise Mitchell) and Zack Morris (who played Keegan Baker) long before her Albert Square debut.
Ellie added: "We trained together at the D&B Academy of Performing Arts.
'It was quite fun seeing them when I got there. I was like, 'Oh, my goodness!''
EastEnders legend makes a shock return just days after quitting Walford
Panto is no walk in the park, with gruelling double-show days and barely any time off.
But Ellie said that soap life has prepped her well.
'EastEnders has taught me a lot,' she explained.
'We film 14 scenes a day and we're there five days a week. If a scene's not going to plan, you've got to think on your feet.
Soap's most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle's schizophrenia in Emmerdale - Belle's (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma's voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth's anorexia in Hollyoaks - Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah's condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt's grooming ordeal in Coronation Street - Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie's darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean's abuse from Tony in EastEnders - Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca's boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.
"You learn to trust your instincts.'
And although she's stepping away for a sprinkle of festive magic, fans won't have to wait long to see her back in Walford.
'They're just letting me have a couple of weeks off - and then I'll be back,' she confirmed.
See Ellie from 12 December in Beauty And The Beast at Fairfield Halls, London.
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