EastEnders star Danielle Harold is in the midst of her own real life drama after reportedly being axed from the London soap.
She has played teen mother Lola Pearce after first appearing on the show in 2011, fending off her fair share of on-screen dramatics including an iconic storyline where she returned to con fan-favourite Phil Mitchell.
Danielle, who turned 30 just one week ago, was said to be "teary" and "in pieces" after the shock firing, which she didn’t see coming.
Danielle only has six months left in her contract and an insider revealed that the show’s bosses are not planning for the character to return.
Which, if previous exits are anything to go by, could mean her character is set to be killed off.
But, to balance out the bad news in her career, Danielle Harold's life off-screen seems a lot more glamorous than the struggles she is yet to face Walford.
She has also spoken freely about a long-term bladder illness, which is why she left school with only one GCSE.
So here's a closer look inside Danielle's every day life away from the fictional streets of Walford…
30th birthday
The Lewisham actress recently celebrated her 30th birthday and shared this glamorous snap with her 192k Instagram followers.
Her platinum blonde hair was worn down and framed her face in long waves, while Danielle stared intently into the camera.
She wore a black crochet top over a black bikini, so we can only assume (hope and pray) that this meant she was marking the milestone birthday somewhere sunny.
Danielle captioned the post: "Unlock level 30", while former Eastenders star Danny Hatchard commented: "Happy Birthday Dan! 30’s the new 21".
A surprise Jamie Oliver connection
But before all the fame and the glamour, Danielle left school with one GCSE under her belt.
So in order to pay the bills, she went into waitressing work and spotted an advert for reality TV show Jamie's Dream School; as in, the one and only TV chef royalty Jamie Oliver.
The show aimed to help young teens with fewer than five GCSEs land their dream jobs – the perfect idea for aspiring actress Danielle.
She admitted: “I worked as a waitress but I didn’t really enjoy it.
"I lost all my confidence and didn’t believe in myself.”
She recounted her experience to the Daily Mail, saying: "It was so much fun and a completely new experience.
"It made me believe in myself and made me realise I could achieve whatever I wanted in life.
"I worried quitting my job would be a mistake but it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made."
History buff David Starkey was so impressed with her work he said she should apply to Cambridge University.
Clearly fortune favours the bold and Danielle landed her role on Eastenders soon after.
Long-term health battle
If you're wondering how Danielle was able to leave school with only one GCSE, wonder no more.
She contracted a very serious illness during her teenage illness which meant she many stays in hospital over the exam period.
She recalled to the Mirror: “I was in year 10 when I fell ill. At that point I just gave up and didn’t try with GCSEs."
She added: "I knew I’d never get good grades, I’ve always wanted to act; drama was the only lesson I enjoyed at school."
Danielle made some comparisons between her behaviour and Lola's: "I wouldn't cause trouble but I had a lot of Lola’s attitude. I’d be feisty and answer back."
Famous friends
Unsurprisingly, Danielle has some famous friends in her phone contacts.
She shared a screenshot of a video chat with Emma Barton (Honey), Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) and Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher) during lockdown 2020.
"Missing my EastEnders family", she captioned the photo.
She's also close with Danny Dyer, who is iconic for his role as Mick Carter.
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