The glam soap stars who look a world away from their alter egos, from Natalie Cassidy to Lucy-Jo Hudson
WE know them from our favourite soaps on TV, but the cast of Britain’s favourite shows looks very different off screen.
From Emmerdale to Eastenders, we take a look at popular characters who look nothing like their on-screen persona.
Eastenders’ Clair Norris stunned fans when she shared a glammed up snap of herself on Instagram earlier this week.
Her off-the-shoulder leopard print top was a far cry from Bernadette Taylor’s usual outfit of school uniform.
The 22-year-old simply captioned her post with a leopard emoji, which was liked more than 10,000 times.
Keeping it in the family, her character’s mum, Karen Taylor, played by Lorraine Stanley, looks unrecognisable out of character.
The 44-year-old has been a Walford resident since 2017, and has racked up a number awards during her stint on the show.
Lorraine plays the mum-of-four, who the BBC described as “a fierce woman” who is “kind-hearted and loyal” and “won’t hear a bad word said against her brood”.
While she wears her hair in her signature top bun on-screen, her off-screen wardrobe couldn’t be further from Karen’s vest tops and denim.
Lorraine, who’s a mum of one, is often snapped with bouncy blow dries and glam dresses, with chic make-up on the red carpet.
Eastenders veteran Natalie Cassidy has been on our screens since 1993, playing the iconic character Sonia Fowler.
After playing Sona intermittently over the years, Natalie rejoined the cast permanently in 2017.
Mum-of-one Natalie has grown up before our eyes on Eastenders, but while her character’s style has evolved, it’s still a world away from her street wardrobe.
She kept things casual as she went about her shopping, previously telling The Sun she feels “much more confident and comfortable” after dropping from a size 16 to an 8.
Fellow Walford resident Tina Carter, aka Luisa Bradshaw-White, regularly delights fans with glam snaps on Insta – a far cry from her work wardrobe.
The 45-year-old, who’s played Tina since 2013, is described as “the kind of woman who can drink you under the table whilst making you cry with laughter with her back catalogue of dirty jokes”.
And she’s got a wardrobe to match, whereas off-screen Luisa regularly shares snaps of her multiple tattoos – to the delight of her fans.
One thing she shares with her on-screen character though is brightly dyed hair, which Luisa rocks in real life.
Soap stalwart Jennie McAlpine, aka Fiz Brown, has appeared in more than 2,000 episodes of Coronation Street.
The flame-haired actress first graced our screens in 2001, and she’s been a firm favourite ever since.
The 36-year-old is known for her outspoken character, and has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most iconic storylines – including Hayley Cropper’s death.
On-screen Fiz is known for her practical wardrobe and signature hairstyle, whereas the mum-of-two is something of a glamazon in daily life.
Jennie often wears her signature curls loose around her face, rather than tied up, and she struts her stuff in gorgeous jumpsuits, plunging frocks and heels.
Also infamous on the cobbles is loud-mouthed Gemma Winter, played by Dolly-Rose Campbell.
The actress joined the show in 2014, and is known for her outlandish dress-sense and bold personality.
But the 33-year-old, who became a permanent character on the show in 2016, prefers knitting in real life.
Dolly-Rose has a penchant for sharply tailored suits and shirts, which she often rocks when not in Weatherfield.
Ellie Leach started off as schoolgirl Faye Windass on the cobbles in 2011, and has had some tough storylines as her character fell pregnant aged 12.
While she’s mostly known for her uniform and pared-down style on-screen, 19-year-old Ellie’s Instagram is awash with fierce looks.
The teen regularly shares snaps showing off contoured make-up, killer heels and statement outfits, a far cry from Faye’s life as a waitress.
Soap veteran Lucy-Jo Hudson previously starred in Coronation Street and went on to star as prostitute Donna-Marie in Hollyoaks.
The 37-year-old’s character has had a tough time as she grapples with drug addiction – and it shows.
Whereas in real life the mum-of-two nails the casual-wear wardrobe with jeans and chunky jumpers, while she can pull off a glam look on the red carpet with plunging necklines and glossy locks.
Emmerdale’s vet Rhona Goskirk, played by Zoe Henry, first appeared in 2001, and is known for her chunky fringe and no-nonsense wardrobe.
Rhona’s love life has had its ups and downs over the years, in stark contrast to mum-of-two’s off-screen romance with fellow Emmerdale star, Jeff Hordley.
The pair married in 2003 and have two children, with the couple regularly gracing the red carpet together.
While Rhona sometimes appears in her green overalls, Zoe turns heads with her chic style, often opting for floral or lacy dresses and smoky eye make-up.
Krupa Pattani rode onto our screens in a blaze of glory as she rode in on her motorbike in Hollyoaks back in 2017.
The actress played Dr Farrah Maalik, who the show described as an “out-and-proud Amazonian”.
Krupa’s character was instantly recognisable due to her numerous tattoos covering both arms, whereas in real life Krupa doesn’t have any.
She previously told Whatsontv: “I have to have them put on in make-up whenever I wear short sleeves.
“It’s quite exciting having tattoos. I don’t have any in real-life and it’s made me think I might actually get one.”
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