Maisie Smith, known to millions as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders, is treading the boards in Manchester for the first time, starring as Audrey in the cult musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats. The production runs until November 28.
Smith played Tiffany for 14 years, joining the BBC soap at the age of six as the daughter of Bianca Jackson. She left the show for good in 2021 after reaching the finals of Strictly Come Dancing. For the past four years she has lived in Manchester with her boyfriend, pop star Max George.
A monster plant and a new home city
In the musical, flower shop worker Seymour is secretly in love with Audrey and names an unusual new plant after her, only for it to grow into a giant flesh-eating beast. Smith described the plant as "hilarious" and said she has been "crying laughing in the wings" watching the three puppeteers operate it.
"You find yourself completely transfixed every time the plant is talking and singing - you believe it! You believe it is happening and how it eats people, it's just phenomenal. But some of my favourite bits of the show are the really lovely moments between Audrey and Seymour," she said.
For the role, Smith is using an American accent, which she recently deployed in the stage tour of The Talented Mr Ripley. She also revealed she has been picking up a Mancunian twang, joking that she takes the mick out of her boyfriend Max George, whose father is from Essex. "I like how certain words [in Manc] become two syllables, there are certain things I've been adding into my vocab now," she laughed.
EastEnders return and Strictly nerves
Asked whether she would consider a return to Albert Square, Smith pointed out that her character is "only in Germany, it's only a couple of hours flight back... but yeah, I just wanted to see if I could get out on the stage and I've really been enjoying it." She also revealed she once auditioned in a Manc accent but did not get the part.
Reflecting on her Strictly Come Dancing experience in 2020, when she danced to the final with pro Gorka Marquez, Smith said she still finds it hard to watch the show because it makes her nervous. "When I hear the announcer saying: 'dancing the paso doble', I don't like it it makes me sick, so I really have to be in the mood to watch it," she said.
Life in Manchester and future plans
Smith said the new role has allowed her to be based at home for the first time "in a long time". "It's the longest I've been in Manchester for a long time, I haven't spent this much time at home for so long. it's just worked out so perfectly. It's nice to come home and make lunch, put on a wash! Just little normal things that you take for granted," she said.
She described the move from London as "a big difference", noting she lives near the canal in a quiet area. "You can't even hear a car near my house, so I quite like the peace of where we live. But I am quite a city girl, so I think there might be some type of move towards a city at some point," she said.
Smith praised the intimate Hope Mill Theatre, saying it reminds her of TV because "they pick up every single movement". Looking ahead, she said she never sets ambitions. "I never set my ambitions, I don't try and have a goal, I just like the excitement of not knowing what I'm doing next year. As long as I keep working I'm good, that's the plan," she said. She also revealed she still writes songs but is not ready to return to music, having released her first album at 14.
Little Shop of Horrors is at Hope Mill Theatre until November 28. The show has sold out for its first few weeks, but tickets for available dates in October and November can be obtained by emailing boxoffice@hopemilltheatre.co.uk.
