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EastEnders fans will no doubt remember the role he played in the lovable Aidan Brosnan’s dizzying descent from promising footballer to hard-core drug addict.
But while the BBC show and its changing cast of characters have changed beyond recognition since troubled teenager Mandy Salter left Albert Square, the actress responsible for bringing her to life clearly hasn’t aged a day.
Nicola Stapleton, who appeared in London on Monday afternoon, was instantly recognizable while shopping with a friend.
The 49-year-old actress, a household name during her 1990s heyday, greeted onlookers with a smile as she toured a series of shops in Soho.
Nicola looked relaxed in a striking black T-shirt and matching trousers, teamed with a distinctive red winter coat and white trainers.
Former EastEnders and Bad Girls star Nicola Stapleton looked like she hadn’t aged a day during an appearance in London on Monday afternoon.
The 49-year-old actress, a household name during her 1990s heyday, greeted onlookers with a smile as she toured a series of shops in Soho.
The London-born star became a household name after landing a dream role as Mandy Salter in EastEnders.
The teenager from hell arrived on the square in 1992 and wasted no time in causing chaos by causing Ian Beale to have a nervous breakdown and corrupting naïve boyfriend Aidan before leaving in 1994.
She finally reprized her role in 2011, with an adult Mandy returning to the Square as a stripper and striking up an unlikely romance with Ian before leaving for good the following year.
Nicola also enjoyed a 12-month stint on rival soap Emmerdale as Eli Dingle’s close friend Danielle Hutch.
The actress is also known for playing prisoner Janine Nebeski in the seventh and eighth series of the ITV prison drama Bad Girls between 2005 and 2006.
In the series finale, her character embarked on a romance with prison officer Donny Kimber, played by her former EastEnders co-star Sid Owen.
The actress also appeared as Joe Nardone in the Channel 4 show Young Person’s Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, and has also taken on smaller roles in TV shows Casualty and Hollyoaks.
Most recently, she voiced the animated character Rosie on the children’s television show Thomas & Friends.
The London-born star became a household name after landing her dream role as Mandy Salter in EastEnders (pictured).
In the latest series of Bad Girls, her character embarked on a romance with prison officer Donny Kimber, played by her former EastEnders co-star Sid Owen.