EastEnders star Lacey Turner has shared her emotional struggle with a recent storyline that left her genuinely distressed.

The actress, who has portrayed the character Stacey Slater since 2004, found herself deeply affected by a plot twist involving the death of her on-screen former partner, Martin Fowler.

The dramatic events unfolded during the soap’s 40th anniversary live episode, which saw the Queen Vic pub go up in flames. In a heroic act, Martin, played by James Bye, risked his life to save Stacey, only to be fatally injured in the process.

Speaking on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, 37-year-old Lacey revealed that her reaction to the tragic storyline was not just an act. “It was hard,” she confessed.

“Every tear that came out of my eye was a genuine sadness. I didn’t rehearse any of that. I physically couldn’t speak. The day after James rang me to that is what they decided – what is going to happen to Martin – I was beside myself.”

She continued: “The day after James rang me to tell me what they decided – what is going to happen to Martin – I was beside myself. I went into work the next day and said, ‘Do I need to be here?’ I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t believe he wanted to go out that way.

“And they are letting him go that way? I wasn’t acting. I was genuinely sad. I couldn’t rehearse because I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t speak, could barely say the lines.”

She spoke of her longstanding on-screen partnership with James, saying that there was a particular scene where she couldn’t bear to look at him, knowing it would move her to tears.

Lacey, a mum of three, explained that her way of handling the stress was essentially to pretend as if it wasn’t happening.

The actress wrestled with conflicting sentiments, eager to be involved in the anniversary special yet reluctant to part ways with her colleague.

When recalling how things unfolded during the actual filming, Lacey said: “Every single time I said that scene I have not been able to control my emotions and then on the night nothing came. It was so strange. It was like my body was in denial and this is not the last time you two are doing this scene together.

“It is the weirdest thing I have ever experienced, my head hurt, that is how sad I was. The whole week rehearsing that and then come the night, I knew all the lines, I don’t know how with the baby brain, but I just kept thinking ‘don’t muck it up, it’s the last scene, don’t muck it up’. And I didn’t but I was numb. But I never read that scene without crying – it was the strangest thing.”

Despite Lacey confessing to feeling numb, viewers showered her with acclaim for her outstanding live portrayal.

Echoing the audience adulation, one fan wrote: “So you’re telling me Lacey Turner filmed a stunt heavily pregnant, gave birth, came back a few weeks later and carried a live episode? Where’s this woman’s pride of Britain award? Get her a knighthood pronto!”

Another viewer expressed: “I have nothing but pure admiration for Lacey Turner. Coming back to EastEnders a few weeks after giving birth to deliver the performance of her life was incredible. Reaching every fibre of her emotion during a LIVE episode isn’t easy. Lacey Turner take a bow.”