Trivia

Is close friends with former EastEnders (1985) co-stars Ross Kemp and Charlie Brooks.

Maternal granddaughter of Norman (1921-1987) and Renee (née Ruggles) Salter (b. 1927).

Best known for playing downtrodden mum Natalie Evans on EastEnders (1985) and feisty tomboy Stevie Moss on The Bill (1984).

Ranked #52 in the 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Natalie Evans (2010).

Ranked #64 in The 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Natalie Evans (2015).

Daughter of Sidney (b. 1946) and Susan (née Salter) Speed (b. 1948).

Has an older brother, Daniel Stuart Speed (b. 1975).

Attended The Italia Conti Academy for one year to complete ballet studies.

Began her career modelling at the age of 7 in catalogues, sporting children's fashionware, before going on to appear in television commercials advertising various products.

She was taught by Monica Wild at the Alexander Academy in Croydon.

Her EastEnders (1985) character Natalie Evans became the 12th woman on the soap opera to give birth. Natalie had a son Jack (played by twins Joseph and Samuel Timson), born on 11 January 2002.

Announced via Twitter that she and husband Spencer Austin are expecting their first child together (29 November 2011).

Gave birth to her first child at age 35, a daughter Kitty Bina Grace Hayler on May 20, 2012. Child's father is her husband, Spencer Austin.

Delivered her daughter Kitty via emergency Caesarean section.

Was four months pregnant with her daughter Kitty when she completed the UK tours of "See How They Run" and "Twelfth Night".

Returned to work two months after giving birth to her daughter Kitty in order to begin filming Bunking Off (2012).

She is also an accomplished dancer including ballet, jazz and tap.

Her favourite actress is Judi Dench and her favourite film is The King and I (1956).

Good friends with Denise Van Outen.

Is just 16 years older than Alice Sykes and 17 years older than Frankie Wilson and Laurie Kynaston, who play her children on Cradle to Grave (2015).

Played her first grandmother role on-screen at age 41 on Call the Midwife (2012).

Is one of 21 regular EastEnders (1985) actors to have appeared on Call the Midwife (2012) either in a main or a guest starring role. The others are Cliff Parisi, Lorraine Stanley, Tilly Vosburgh, Lacey Turner, Jenna Russell, Kacey Ainsworth, Matilda Ziegler, Ted Reilly, Jasmyn Banks, Danny Walters, Kate Williams, Anita Dobson, Maggie O'Neill, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Ann Mitchell, Kellie Shirley, Phil Daniels, Marc Elliott, James Alexandrou and Angela Wynter. Of these 21, Speed is one of 17 actors to have appeared on Call the Midwife (2012) after appearing on EastEnders (1985).

Gave birth to her second child at age 41, a son Sullivan Hayler on August 6, 2018. Child's father is her husband, Spencer Austin.