Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ENDERS STAR
Jacqueline Jossa says she feels just as confident as ever and she has a positive message to share with all mums out there. The ex-eastenders star, who played wild child Lauren Branning, describes herself as a “nice healthy size 12”.
On the subject of being attractive, she adds: “Of course I feel sexy after having two kids. Why wouldn’t I?
“You can be a mum and still rock it. Your body can change but that doesn’t mean you’re not sexy.”
Mum to Ella, six, and three-year-old Mia with husband Dan Osborne, the actress, 28, believes that striking a strong work-life balance has been key – as well as getting some time for herself.
She says: “My two little girls are my best friends and I’m glad I’m a young mother because it means I can grow up with them.
“I’m with my daughters anytime I’m not working and I do lots of stuff with them. I aim to do the school pick-ups and drop-offs whenever I can.
“I try to make time for myself – but that’s normally when they’re asleep.”
With her formative years spent in the public eye, Jacqueline says while she missed out on some big milestones she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The star, who was named the sexiest female in soap dramas during her time in Eastenders, adds: “I suppose I didn’t know any different.
“I was 17 and they were crucial years in my life. I did have to alter certain aspects and I couldn’t do the things my friends were doing.
“So I had to be a bit more mindful than your average teenager.
“More importantly, I was so bloody busy I had to cancel all the time on my friends and I missed out on a lot of weddings, parties, christenings and 18th and 21st birthday parties.
“But I was in an incredibly lucky position for someone of my age. Everyone at Eastenders, particularly the people you don’t see, like the team behind the camera, always looked after me so well.
“And there was a counsellor who I could speak to.
“Even as a 17-year-old, I was always treated with the utmost respect.”
And now, with the return of Albert Square villain Janine Butcher – played by Charlie Brooks – Jacqueline is not ruling out making a soap comeback.
She says: “I’ll obviously go back at some point.
“But it would have to be the right storyline.
“As one of the biggest shows in the country, it would have to work for both them and me because they might not be ready for Lauren Branning, so it depends on timing.”
And on whether her recovering alcoholic character, who left Walford three years ago for a new life in New Zealand, would still be on the wagon, she laughs: “I’ve never thought about it
We’ve too much of a boring life. No drama or glamour JACQUELINE JOSSA ON REALITY SHOW NO-GO
but it would be interesting to see where she’s ended up.
“It was brilliant to be involved in that storyline, and the Eastenders writers did lots of research to ensure we told the story with as much truth as possible.
“I’m still in touch with Jake Wood, who played my dad on the show Max Branning.
“It’s funny because you normally just hang around with your onscreen family members when you’re there.”
Recalling her break on the soap that