23 March 2023 , 13:04
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EastEnders star Shona McGarty gained a legion of fans after appearing on our screens in 2008.
The actress, who dated her co-star Matt Lapinskas, is known for her role as Bianca Jackson’s adoptive daughter Whitney Dean on the long-running soap.
Whitney went through a lot in the show. She was groomed by Bianca's partner Tony King and even married Lee Carter.
She later got engaged to Kish Kazemi before he died.
However, her time was cut short and she was briefly suspended from EastEnders by acting executive producer Lorraine Newman in 2012. She returned a month later.
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Shona's life outside the soap is wildly different to her character's rollercoaster of a life.
Not only is she an actress, but she is also an incredible singer and performed at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance singing Hallelujah in November.
Split from co-star
Shona and her co-star Matt Lapinskas dated for 18 months (Daily Mirror)
The relationship soon fizzled out (PA Wire/Press Association Images)In the early 2010s, Shona started dating her co-star Matt Lapinskas - who took on the role of Anthony Moon in the series.
They met each other in August 2011 and they spent all their time together. The actor even said it was "love at first sight".
Unfortunately, they only lasted for 18 months even though Matt thought about asking her to marry him.
The actor recently explained to Daily Star : "You have exes, you live, learn and move forward. Shona is still doing well, she is still in EastEnders and smashing it.
"I wish nothing but the best for everybody and everyone teaches you something in life."
EastEnders suspension
She was briefly suspended from EastEnders (Shared Content Unit)In 2012, EastEnders bosses told Shona, who was 20 at the time, that she faced the sack if she did not become better at timekeeping.
She was given a month unpaid suspension from the soap after repeatedly turning up to set late.
The Borehamwood native was also fined about £3,000 to cover the crew’s overtime costs when scenes ran late.
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However, she seemed to learn her lesson and upon her return to work, she said she would be curbing her nights out.
“I realise how lucky I am,” she said following the suspension.
“I’m just going to stay in now. I’m going to try and be good. It’s like a big family on EastEnders.”
“And I am going to buy one of those big old-fashioned alarm clocks with the bells on it!”
Style transformation
Shona at the Inside Soap Awards in 2010 (Getty Images)
The star attending the British Soap Awards in 2022 (WireImage)The gorgeous actress has slowly transformed her style over they years.
When she first joined EastEnders 15 years ago, she wore more toned-down outfits such as simple form-fitting dresses and casual tops.
Following the style of the early 2010s, Shona rocked dark eyeliner and smoky eyes for the red carpet.
(shonabmx/Instagram)Now, the star rocks more glamorous looks.
For the British Soap Awards in 2022, Shona looked out of this world in a floor-length shining peach-coloured dress.
Shona looked stunning with red hair (BBC / Kieron McCarron)She styled her hair into perfect waves and rocked minimal jewellery in order to let the dress do all the talking.