EastEnders star Maisie Smith has opened up about how she deals with the social media bullying that comes with working on the show.
The 18-year-old returned to the BBC One soap last year to reprise her role as Tiffany Butcher, and has most recently earned huge praise for a storyline that saw Tiffany bravely confront her rapist.
Although she plays one of the most popular characters on EastEnders, Maisie told OK! Magazine that she is still targeted for online harassment routinely.
"Everyone experiences the odd negative comment, but I just ignore them," she said. "I don't let them affect me because there are so many other comments full of love. It's usually just people saying: 'You're ugly,' or weird, random things like that.
"I've grown up with social media and just focus on the positive stuff."
Maisie also mentioned that she still remembers valuable advice she got from an Albert Square legend at a young age about how to deal with the dark side of fame.
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"It's all I’ve ever known; 'I've been acting since the age of four," she explained. "When I was working with Charlie Brooks [aka Janine Butcher], she said: 'Whatever happens in your career, stay grounded,' and that has stayed with me.
"I don't feel like I've struggled at all with fame; I've managed to work my life around it."
Maisie is set to be at the forefront of EastEnders again soon when her on-screen mum Patsy Palmer returns as Bianca Jackson, kicking off a year-long storyline.
EastEnders airs on BBC One on Mondays and Fridays at 8pm as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.
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