Hetti set to raise hell in Albert Square

A TEENAGE actress, who hails from Sedlescombe, made her debut appearance in EastEnders last week.

Hetti Bywater, 17, has taken over the role of young hellraiser Lucy Beale in the long-running BBC soap opera.

Hetti is the latest actress to play the role of the daughter of Walford businessman Ian Beale.

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She replaces actress Melissa Suffield, who played the role from 2004 to 2010.

Hetti admitted she found it daunting playing an established character.

She said: “It’s scary being recast as the character, Lucy.

“It was daunting at first and I hope I settled in okay.

“Everyone knew the old Lucy but hopefully I can put my own stamp on the character.”

But despite her nerves, Hetti has been made to feel welcome by her EastEnders co-stars.

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Hetti added: “It’s pretty overwhelming and I was really nervous on my first day as everyone knows each other.

“It’s like a big family. I feel like I am the new girl at school - everybody is really nice and welcoming, so it’s been great.”

Terrible teen Lucy is set to make waves with her return to Albert Square, the fictional street in which EastEnders is set.

Lucy has already tried to set Mandy up by planting pills in her bag and Hetti reveals the character has some other evil plans in mind.

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Hetti said: “She has more plans to get Mandy into trouble and she also has some plans for Whitney. She’s definitely still trouble!”

News of Hetti’s casting was leaked at the end of last year when she was spotted filming a funeral scene for an episode of the drama.

Speaking about her friends’ reactions to her casting in EastEnders, Hetti said: “Everyone is really excited for me, originally it was confidential and friends found out as the paparazzi took pictures of me, and I started to receive text messages - everyone’s really excited.”

Since the age of 11, Hetti attended The Theatre Workshop stage school in Bexhill and Eastbourne.

Hetti said: “I went to a drama school on Saturdays.

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“My drama teacher’s brother is an agent and he came down and auditioned a few people, and I was taken up by him.”

Hetti has previously won roles in other BBC dramas Casualty and Doctors and won a national modelling competition which saw her photograph appear in Mackay’s stores nationwide.

She has also just finished work on two films called St George’s Day and Counting Backwards.

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