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Maisie Smith
Maisie Smith 2019 BSAs.jpg
Smith in 2019
Born
Maisie Louise Collender Smith

(2001-07-09) 9 July 2001 (age 23)
Westcliff, Essex, England
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active 2006–present
Television EastEnders
Strictly Come Dancing

Maisie Louise Collender Smith (born 9 July 2001) is an English actress and singer. She appeared in the feature film The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and played the regular role of Tiffany Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2008 to 2014. In November 2016, Smith temporarily returned to EastEnders for a guest stint, before making a full-time return in January 2018. In October 2021 it was announced that she would once again be leaving EastEnders and her final scenes aired in December of that year; she made a one-off appearance in March 2022 to aid the departure of Keegan Baker (Zack Morris). In 2020, she competed in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside partner Gorka Marquez, reaching the final but losing out to Bill Bailey.

Career

Smith attended the Singer Stage School in Leigh-on-Sea for 18 months, and in 2006, she was cast in the film The Other Boleyn Girl as a young Elizabeth I; the film was released in February 2008. She then went on to portray the role of Tiffany Dean in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Smith made her first appearance on the soap on 1 April 2008, at age six, as the daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). Her mother stated "The role is an exaggeration of her own personality, she's a little madam. A lively character both on and off screen. The difference is, she's told to pronounce her t's at home! She is not star-struck at all and has her feet very firmly on the ground. She is an extremely confident child and a great actress." Smith's father said, "She gets recognised quite a lot when we go out as a family. It's funny when you see people nudge each other and you can hear them saying, ‘Is that the girl off EastEnders?’"

A few months after her casting, Smith said that she was loving being on EastEnders, telling the Echo (Essex) "I love being on EastEnders. I really get on with Patsy who plays my mum. She looks after me so well. It's like I'm her real daughter some days. Everyone is really nice. Pam St Clement, who plays Pat Butcher, is also really lovely to me. I’m glad I get to be cheeky and say some funny lines. I would never want to be a goody goody. It's strange people point at me in the street now and ask if I’m the girl from EastEnders. All my friends think it's great I’m on television. I think I will want to be an actress forever now."

Digital Spy's Kris Green said Smith is "brilliant" and "one...to watch", comparing her to Ellis Hollins, the award-winning child actor who plays Tom Cunningham in the Channel 4 teen soap opera Hollyoaks. She has also been praised by stage school teacher Sandra Singer, who said, "Maisie has the most incredible memory and when it comes to script work she is fantastic. It is often very difficult for a six-year-old to act, but she handles it really well and adores it."

In 2010, Smith was asked to appear on CITV's Bookaboo, and read the story Stinky by Ian Whybrow. Smith told CITV "You have to be quiet in libraries which is really hard for me as I'm very loud. I would probably come last in a 'who can stay quiet the longest' competition!" In 2011, Smith was interviewed by The Stage magazine where she talked about her role in EastEnders. Smith said, "Sudden fame can be tricky when you are just out having fun and people keep wanting to take your photo, but the EastEnders people are very supportive and have said that we can politely say no in situations where we feel uncomfortable. I am very glad that my break came with EastEnders, as they are like a family who look after you. Working on the show has given me the chance to learn so much from the actors, especially those who are in my TV family. There are lots of things you can only learn from actually working on a set. The stage school I attend –also Singer Stage School – prepares you really well, but it is so different when you are actually there on set being filmed."

In October 2016, it was announced Smith would be releasing her first single, "Good Thing". Smith shot a music video accompanying the song at the Belt Craft studios and the song and video was uploaded to Smith's YouTube channel in November 2016. Smith released her second single, "Where My Heart Is", in March 2017. Smith said a lot of her songs were about herself, so she "wanted to write a song that inspired others" and she hopes "that got across" and that it "manages to inspire those who listen". On 3 November 2016, Smith made a previously unannounced temporary return to EastEnders. Smith returned full-time in January 2018.

In September 2020, it was announced that she would be competing in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with Gorka Márquez. In December 2020, they finished in second place alongside Hrvy & Janette Manrara and Jamie Laing & Karen Hauer, after losing out to Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.

In May 2022, it was announced Smith would be making her musical theatre debut in Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, playing Fran.

In October 2022, Smith was one of four finalists who completed series 4 of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

In April 2024, Smith was cast as Beth, the Parson's Wife in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds for the 2025 The Spirit of Man tour.

Personal life

Smith lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, with her parents and sister. Smith attended Belfairs Academy in Leigh-on-Sea and the Sandra Singer Stage School. Smith attended South Essex College, where she studied musical theatre. As of September 2022, she is in a relationship with singer Max George.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009 The British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance for a Young Actor or Actress EastEnders Won
2010 The British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance for a Young Actor or Actress Nominated
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor Nominated
2011 The British Soap Awards Best Young Performance Nominated
2011 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor Won
2012 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor Shortlisted
2013 The British Soap Awards Best Young Performance Nominated
2013 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor Won
2018 The British Soap Awards Best Young Actor Nominated
2018 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor Shortlisted
2019 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Nominated
2019 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Actor (Female) Fourth
2020 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Partnership (shared with Zack Morris) Nominated
2023 The Stage Debut Awards Best Performer in a Musical Strictly Ballroom: The Musical Pending

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Other Boleyn Girl Young Elizabeth Film
2008–2014, 2016, 2018–2022 EastEnders Tiffany Butcher Series regular
2010 EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford Tiffany Butcher Straight-to-DVD
2015 Released from Fear: A Restorative Justice Story Lauren Short film
Stage
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Strictly Ballroom: The Musical Fran Churchill Theatre, Bromley / tour
As herself
Year Title Notes
2008 EastEnders: Ricky and Bianca Special
2009–2014, 2018–2019 The British Soap Awards Award winner and nominee
2009 Children in Need EastEnders special
2010 EastEnders Live: The Aftermath Documentary
2011 Bookaboo Guest star
2011 Comic Relief Guest star for EastEnders
2011 EastEnders Revealed Episode: "Whitney's Story"
2016 Loose Women 1 episode
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square Episode: "Tiffany, Keegan and Karen"
2020 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant; series 18
2022 Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins Contestant; series 4
2023 The Chase Celebrity Special Contestant; Series 13 Episode 7

Discography

Extended plays

Title Details
Where My Heart Is

Music videos

Title Year Director(s)
"Good Thing" 2016 Mark Potter
"Where My Heart Is" 2017

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Maisie Smith para niños

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