EastEnders fans will no doubt remember the role she played in loveable Aidan Brosnan’s spiraling descent from promising footballer to hopeless drug addict.
But while the BBC show and its revolving cast of characters have changed beyond recognition since troublesome teen Mandy Salter left Albert Square, the actress responsible for bringing her to life clearly hasn’t aged a day.
Making an appearance in London on Monday afternoon, Nicola Stapleton 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 browsed a string of stores in Soho.
Nicola looked relaxed in a black statement 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 hasn’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 browsed a string of stores in Soho
The London-born star became a household name after winning 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 triggering Ian Beale’s nervous breakdown and corrupting naïve boyfriend Aidan before leaving in 1994.
She eventually reprised her role in 2011, with an adult Mandy returning to the Square as a stripper and engaging in 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 ITV prison drama Bad Girls between 2005 and 2006.
In the final series, her character embarked on a romance with male prison officer Donny Kimber, played by her ex-EastEnders co-star Sid Owen.
The actress also featured as Joe Nardone in Channel 4 show Young Person’s Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, and has also taken smaller roles in TV staples Casualty and Hollyoaks.
More recently she voiced animated character Rosie in children’s TV show Thomas & Friends.
The London-born star became a household name after winning a dream role as Mandy Salter in EastEnders (pictured)
In the final series of Bad Girls, her character Janine embarked on a romance with male prison officer Donny Kimber, played by her ex-EastEnders co-star Sid Owen
