EastEnders legend Lacey Turner almost played different soap icon before Stacey Slater
Lacey Turner has played the role of Stacey Slater on EastEnders since 2004 but the character almost looked completely different as the actress auditioned for another part
Lacey Turner auditioned for a different role before Stacey Slater.
The actress, 35, has portrayed Stacey since 2004 and has become one of EastEnders ‘ most iconic characters. Stacey has been a central figure in some of the soap’s biggest storylines, from her steamy affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood) to killing Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).
She played a key role in the build-up to Christmas and the explosive episode last year, becoming a member of The Six. So, it’s hard to imagine Walford without Stacey in it.
But the character almost looked completely different as Lacey originally went for the part of Demi Miller. Months before making her first appearance on Albert Square, the soap star was whittled down to the final two for the role of Demi.
Hosted by Stacey Dooley, the Walford icons discussed everything from their characters’ most memorable scenes to behind-the-scenes secrets. This led Lacey to recall her devastation when she discovered she hadn’t got the part.
She explained: “I originally came to audition for the Miller family. They said, ‘You haven’t got it’ and I cried in bed.” But bosses had other ideas as TV writer Tony Jordan said: “She’s not a Miller, she’s a Slater”.
Lacey added: “If I wanted to be anyone in anything ever, I wanted to be a Slater,” adding that landing the part of Stacey was “literally the best thing that’s ever happened” to her.
Stacey made her first appearance on Albert Square in November 2004, just two months after Shana made her debut as Demi. The loud-mouthed character has been causing mayhem for the past two decades, meanwhile, the character of Demi was axed after just two years in 2006.