fan funding
EastEnders star recruits Emmerdale actress wife for new film – and wants fans to fund it
The couple are soap icons in their own rights but their new project needs cash from fans
A FORMER EastEnders star is spearheading a new project - but needs fans' help to make the dream a reality.
The actor graced Albert Square for three years, embodying one of the BBC soap's most despised villains.
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Toby-Alexander Smith, 33, portrayed domestic abuser Gray Atkins between 2019 and 2022.
Two years on from leaving EastEnders, the star is now titled Calm.
In addition to writing Calm, Toby is set to play the lead role of Sam.
The plot follows a first-time father becoming overwhelmed by the disconnection he feels from his son.
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With £10,000 set as the fundraiser's target, the production is looking to members of the public for their support.
As of writing, just over £2,500 has been raised with about three weeks remaining.
Meanwhile, Toby is not the only cast member that soap fans would recognise.
His real-life wife Amy Walsh is also set to star in Calm, playing the role of Jess opposite her husband.
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Amy, 37, who is the sister of Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, has portrayed Tracy Metcalfe in ITV's Emmerdale since 2014.
The two actors met by chance back in 2019, while both were in the audience for a Strictly Come Dancing episode.
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Amy had been supporting colleague and eventual winner Kelvin Fletcher, with Toby likewise rooting for Emma Barton.
Beginning their romantic relationship a year later, they welcomed a daughter in December 2021.
After announcing their engagement in August 2022, Toby and Amy tied the knot in August 2023.
When Toby's EastEnders character Gray arrived, he was initially depicted as a loving husband and father, as well as a confident businessman.
The story took a sharp turn when the couple became the focus of a domestic abuse storyline, ending with Gray tragically killing his wife.
He later also murdered Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami).
Meanwhile, Amy's character Tracy Metcalfe (then Shankley) was originally introduced as a love interest for Sam Dingle (James Hooton).
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One storyline saw Tracy discover that her stepson Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) was being groomed by Maya Stepney (Louisa Clein).
The character has also been married twice, to David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) and Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) respectively.
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