13 soap stars who look dramatically different in real life – from EastEnders mum who shuns make-up to Corrie school girl
THEY’RE some of the most famous characters on TV – but would you be able to recognise the cast of Britain’s favourite soaps if you saw them in real life?
Recently Coronation Street star Millie Gibson, 18, stunned fans as she enjoyed a luxury getaway in Italy, looking radically different to her on-screen persona.
After a turbulent few years on the cobbles, teen tearaway Kelly Neelan is waving goodbye to Weatherfield -`and Millie is set for an explosive exit.
She isn’t the not the only one who looks dramatically different to her soapland character in real life.
From Emmerdale and Corrie to EastEnders, we take a closer look at some of the popular characters who could be mistaken for a …
Harriet Bibby – Summer Spellman
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Harriet, 24, is best known for playing Summer Spellman in ITV’s Corrie, and regularly delights fans by sharing glam snaps of her out and about with pals on Instagram.
Harriet took over from actress Matilda Freeman two years ago in 2020 – and has been a regular feature ever since.
Recently the actress revealed that she regularly works a weekend teaching job on top of her full-time role in Coronation Street.
Speaking to Inside Soap, she revealed she has a second job at a stage school in Manchester, saying: “On my weekends I’m a singing teacher. On Saturday mornings I teach kids at a musical theatre club.”
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Elle Mulvaney – Amy Barlow
Having joined Corrie in 2010, Elle was just eight when she first took on the role of Am Barlow, with her character two years younger than her real age.
The star, 19, has grown up playing Steve McDonald and Tracey’s daughter, but her life – and fashion style – is very different away from the cameras.
In a recent interview with Inside Soap, Elle opened up about her concerns over her romance storyline with drug dealer Jacob, which has since seen the pair have been nominated for an Inside Soap Award for Best Romance.
She said: “We were worried at the start about how viewers were going to take to Jacob and Amy, because Jacob was a bad lad… so to have everyone take it so well, and then to be nominated for this award, is just amazing.”
Bradley Johnson – Vinny Dingle
Bradley, 24, has played Vinny Dingle in Emmerdale since 2019, but is also an extremely talented musician.
Prior to being Mandy Dingle’s surrogate son in the long-running drama, Bradley may be remembered as a former contestant of BBC’s Let it Shine.
Bradley appeared in the talent competition in 2017 and delivered a performance of Bring Him Home from the musical Les Misérables.
Milly Zero – Dotty Cotton
Stunning actress Milly, 23, joined the cast as Dot Branning’s granddaughter in 2019, replacing Molly Conlin who had previously played the role.
She looked incredible last month in holiday snaps she shared on social media, in which she posed in a floral print cut-away gown, her hair slicked back and a dash of red lipstick finishing off the polished look.
A former BRIT school student, Milly graduated in 2017 with trio of A-Levels in English Literature, Dance, Music and Theatre.
But the budding star actually made her TV debut when she was 13 in CBBC’s All At Sea.
Clair Norris – Bernadette Taylor
Eastenders’ Clair Norris, now 24, first stunned fans when she shared a glammed up snap of herself on Instagram back in 2020.
Since then she has continued to delight her followers on social media with updates about her life away from the square.
The star has played Bernie on EastEnders since 2017, but took time off last year to film her first Panorama.
Earlier this year the BBC star filmed a documentary about the horrific bullying she’s received over her weight.
Lorraine Stanley – Karen Taylor
Keeping it in the family, Bernadette’s mum Karen Taylor – played by Lorraine Stanley – also looks unrecognisable out of character.
The 46-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-six 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 high 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.
Natalie Cassidy – Sonia Fowler
EastEnders veteran Natalie Cassidy, now 39, has been on our screens since 1993, playing the iconic character Sonia Fowler.
After playing Sonia on and off over the years, Natalie rejoined the cast permanently in 2017.
Mum-of-two Natalie has grown up before our eyes on Enders, but while her character’s style has evolved, it’s still a world away from her own wardrobe.
Natalie has been engaged to Marc Humphreys since 2015, and is mum to daughters Eliza, 11, and Joanie, six.
Dolly-Rose Campbell – Gemma Winter
Loud-mouthed Gemma Winter, played by Dolly-Rose Campbell, is a popular character on the cobbles who became a mum of quads in 2019.
The actress joined the show in 2014, and is known for her outlandish dress sense and bold personality.
But the 34-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 – Faye Windass
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 tends to sport pared-down style on-screen, 21-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.
Lorna Laidlaw – Aggie Bailey
Having previously starred in Doctors as Mrs Tembe, Lorna Laidlaw arrived as the matriarch of the Bailey family on the cobbles in 2019.
Lorna’s character is a nurse, and devoted mum to her two sons Michael and James, who came out as a gay footballer in 2021.
Off screen Lorna’s style couldn’t be more different to dowdy Aggie’s – she’s known to experiment with her hair and recently sported a shock of bleach blonde curls.
Lucy-Jo Hudson – Donna-Marie Quinn
TV veteran Lucy-Jo Hudson started her soap career in Coronation Street and went on to star as prostitute Donna-Marie in Hollyoaks.
The 39-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.
She can pull off a glam look on the red carpet with plunging necklines and glossy locks.
Krupa Pattani – Dr Farrah Maalik
Krupa Pattani arrived 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”, but departed in 2019.
Krupa’s character was instantly recognisable due to her numerous tattoos covering both arms.
However, in real life Krupa doesn’t have any inkings.
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She previously told What To Watch: “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.”