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NEW HAIR DON'T CARE

EastEnders legend Lucy Benjamin looks completely different with grey hair two years after leaving soap

EASTENDERS legend Lucy Benjamin has transformed her look for her latest acting role.

The Louise Fowler actress, 51, who first stepped foot in Walford in 1998, was last seen in Albert Square in 2020.

EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin looks different since leaving the soap two years ago
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EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin looks different since leaving the soap two years agoCredit: WARNING: Use of this image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture
The actress' scenes in 2020 saw her character Lisa Fowler flee to Portugal with Louise
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The actress' scenes in 2020 saw her character Lisa Fowler flee to Portugal with LouiseCredit: BBC / Kieron McCarron

Off-screen, Lucy has celebrated her milestone 50th birthday with a balloon-filled bash before turning her focus to her latest role.

After previously starring in the stage musical Hairspray, she is again treading the boards in the new theatre adaption of Henry VI, as well as show Wars Of The Roses.

Yet there's one big difference - the EastEnders star's iconic blonde curls associated with Lisa's character are gone.

Lucy has stayed true to her natural hair colour and tied her grey curls in a bobble as she rehearsed on-set.

She was seen wearing a beige top and black jeans - not the clobber she will wear in character - as she went through her lines in her role as Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, for the production for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Posting an image of her at work to her Instagram, she gushed: "Week 7 of rehearsals. Lovin' it!"

SOAP STORY

Lucy's soap character Lisa was first introduced to the Square in December 1998 as an assistant market stall inspector.

During her time in Walford, she had two major relationships - Phil Mitchell and Mark Fowler.

Lucy was last seen on the soap in January 2020, when she left in dramatic fashion with daughter Louise Mitchell.

They fled to Portugal to save Louise from a life in prison.

Louise, mum to Peggy Taylor, was consumed by her guilt at luring ex and father to her child Keanu to his death and was suffering from a breakdown.

But with Louise on the edge, Lisa told Phil she was taking their daughter to live in Portugal.

At first, he joined the pair, before making his return the following month ahead of the boat disaster on the soap's 35th anniversary.

Meanwhile, Lucy also starred in the 2009 series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here alongside Kim Woodburn, George Hamilton and Gino D'Acampo.

However, she was the first to be eliminated by public vote from the show.

Lucy's two plays, which are Parts 2 and 3 of the Henry VI trilogy, run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, with Henry VI: Rebellion running 1 April – 28 May, and Wars of the Roses running 11 April – 4 June. Go to and call the box office on 01789 331111.

Lucy looks completely different while rehearsing for her two new stage roles
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Lucy looks completely different while rehearsing for her two new stage rolesCredit: Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC.
Lucy is known for her curly locks, which she has kept natural for her new theatre role
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Lucy is known for her curly locks, which she has kept natural for her new theatre roleCredit: Getty
The actress has starred in EastEnders since 1998
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The actress has starred in EastEnders since 1998Credit: BBC

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