Lacey Turner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lacey Turner
Turner in 2016
Born	Lacey Amelia Turner (1988-03-28) 28 March 1988 (age 37) Barnet, North London, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2004–present
Television	EastEnders True Love Bedlam Switch Our Girl
Spouse(s)	Matt Kay ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	3
Awards	Full list

Lacey Amelia Turner (born 28 March 1988) is an English actress. She is well-known for playing Stacey Slater in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She first played Stacey from 2004 to 2010. She then returned in 2014 and left the show again in 2025.

For her role as Stacey, Lacey has won many awards. These include four National Television Awards, eight British Soap Awards, and eight Inside Soap Awards. She has also appeared in other TV shows like Being Human (2011) and Call the Midwife (2014). From 2013 to 2014, she starred as Molly Dawes in the BBC military drama Our Girl.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Lacey Turner was born on 28 March 1988 in Edgware, London. Her parents are Les Turner and Beverly Harvey. She grew up with her two younger sisters in Hertfordshire. Their home was very close to the BBC television studios in Elstree.

Lacey once shared that she could see parts of the EastEnders set from her bedroom window. She could even hear them filming at night. She told her mum, "I wanna be on that!" It was living there that made Lacey want to become an actress.

Training and School Days

When she was 10, Lacey trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. However, she left after a year, saying it "wasn't [her] cup of tea." She later said that she was teased at school for being "too geeky."

Instead, she went to a local private school for girls, Peterborough and Saint Margaret's School in Bushey. Outside of school, she took dance, singing, and acting classes. Lacey's first acting jobs were on stage and in commercials. One of her notable early appearances was in a Haribo advert.

Lacey Turner's Acting Career

Becoming Stacey Slater in EastEnders

Lacey Turner in September 2010

In 2004, Lacey auditioned for the role of Demi Miller in EastEnders. She did not get that part. However, she was offered the role of Stacey Slater, a new character joining the popular Slater family. Lacey started on the soap opera the day after she finished school. Her first appearance on screen was in November 2004.

Lacey naturally speaks with Received Pronunciation. For her role as Stacey, she had to learn a cockney accent. She said, "I always dreamt of being on the show and so I can't believe that I've fulfilled my greatest ambition!"

Her character, Stacey, has been part of many important storylines. These include dealing with challenging family relationships and discovering she has bipolar disorder. She was also involved in a major storyline where she confessed to a crime.

Live Episodes and Breaks

Lacey starred in a live episode of EastEnders on 19 February 2010. This episode celebrated the show's 25th anniversary. Over 16.6 million viewers watched this special episode.

After her co-star Charlie Clements left the show in February 2010, Lacey decided to leave too. She said, "I'll miss Stacey and everyone in Albert Square very much but the time has come to try something different." She left the show on 25 December 2010.

On 6 December 2013, it was announced that Lacey would return to EastEnders as Stacey. She started filming again in January 2014. Her return on screen was on 7 February 2014. She came back full-time in August 2014. Since returning, she has been part of a storyline about a challenging health condition after childbirth.

Lacey took breaks from the show in August 2019 and April 2021 for maternity leave. During her third maternity leave in February 2025, she returned for a special live episode. This episode celebrated the 40th anniversary of EastEnders.

In May 2025, it was reported that Lacey would be leaving the role of Stacey again later in the year. This was to explore other opportunities and spend time with her family. An EastEnders spokesperson said the "door would be left open" for her to return.

Other TV Roles and Our Girl

Lacey Turner signing autographs at the 16th National Television Awards in January 2011

Lacey was cast as Lia Shaman in the third series of Being Human. She appeared in the first episode on 23 January 2011. She also returned for the series finale. In March 2011, she played Elizabeth Lavenza in Frankenstein's Wedding. This was a live TV adaptation of the classic novel.

Lacey appeared in the BBC One show True Love in June 2012. She was alongside actors like David Tennant and Billie Piper. Also in June, she played Ellie in the second series of Bedlam. Ellie's character claimed to see ghosts. In October, she starred in the ITV2 drama Switch. This show was about four young witches living in London. Lacey's character was Stella, a very well-dressed career woman.

Lacey later played Molly Dawes in a special drama called Our Girl. She started filming in October 2012, and the film aired on BBC One on 24 March 2013. This led to a five-part television series that started on 21 September 2014. Michelle Keegan took over the main role from the second series when Lacey decided to focus on EastEnders in 2016.

Other Projects

In December 2010, Lacey helped with Royal Mail's campaign to remind people about Christmas postal deadlines. In October 2012, she joined Asda's Tickled Pink campaign, which supports breast cancer charities.

She has also done voice-over work for the CITV show Goodbye Year Six. Lacey narrated BBC Three's Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby. She also acted in radio dramas like The One about the Social Worker and Up the Junction for BBC Radio 4.

In October 2020, Lacey appeared in the Channel 5 documentary Miscarriage: Our Story. She spoke about her personal experiences and later called for better support for parents who have experienced similar losses. She appeared on BBC Breakfast in April 2021 to discuss this important issue.

In August 2024, it was announced that Lacey would start hosting a podcast called We Started Here. The podcast celebrates celebrities whose careers began on soap operas. It began in January 2025 and has featured guests like her EastEnders co-stars Jessie Wallace and Anita Dobson.

Personal Life

Lacey Turner married Matt Kay in a private ceremony in Ibiza on 5 September 2017. They have three children together. Their first child, a daughter, was born on 12 July 2019. Their second child, a son, was born on 3 February 2021. On 30 September 2024, Lacey announced she was expecting her third child. She gave birth to another daughter on 17 January 2025.

Lacey is good friends with her EastEnders co-stars Jessie Wallace and Natalie Cassidy. They play Kat Slater and Sonia Fowler on the show.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Lacey Turner para niños