Victoria Shalet, best known for playing Harmony in the BBC children's show The Queen's Nose, looks almost unrecognisable over 30 years after she rose to fame. The 44-year-old London-born performer is now a psychotherapist for individuals and couples, working in areas including abuse, grief and child-related issues.
From child star to therapist
Fans of the nineties programme will remember Shalet playing Harmony, a 12-year-old gifted a magical 50p coin by her uncle Ginger. The coin granted wishes when Queen Elizabeth II's nose was rubbed. Shalet starred on the show from its debut in 1995 until season four, when the story took a new direction without her character.
Her acting career continued after The Queen's Nose, with appearances in TV shows like The Quest and Midsomer Murders. She also had memorable movie roles in the 1995 horror Haunted and the 2003 drama Eroica.
Why she quit acting
Shalet has previously opened up about leaving the industry, confessing that she lost her spark for performing. Speaking to Glamour, she explained: "From the age of six, I was acting, but I got to my early twenties and realised my heart just wasn't in it. Then I had some therapy myself and it really did make me re-evaluate what I wanted from life. I did a foundation year in counselling and knew I wanted to take it further."
She described the moment everything changed: "The crunch came when I was accepted onto a training course that would qualify me to be a therapist. On the same day, I got a call-back from an audition to be a regular in Holby City. When I didn't get the part, I saw it as a sign that I had to give up acting altogether to do the three-year course. I had to make a choice and I've never regretted it."
Reflecting on her past
Shalet recalls her past life on her website, writing: "Before becoming a psychotherapist, I spent over two decades working as an actor in film, television, theatre, and radio. This immersive experience of observing and portraying the human condition deepened my curiosity about why we do what we do—and how our internal world shapes our behaviour and relationships."
Old episodes of The Queen's Nose are currently available to watch on YouTube.
