Victoria Shalet, best known for playing Harmony in the beloved children's show The Queen's Nose, has left acting behind and now works as a psychotherapist. The 44-year-old London-born star made the decision to quit the industry after a pivotal moment in her early twenties.
A Beloved Children's Show
The Queen's Nose centred on Harmony, a 12-year-old girl who receives a magical 50p coin that grants wishes whenever Queen Elizabeth II's nose is rubbed. The show drew inspiration from Dick King-Smith's novel of the same name and catapulted the career of former child actor Victoria Shalet.
She played Harmony from the programme's debut in 1995 right through to series four, before the show took the story in a new direction without her character. She went on to appear in television programmes including The Quest and Midsomer Murders, as well as the 1995 film Haunted.
The Moment She Decided to Leave
Speaking to Glamour in 2015, Victoria opened up about the moment she knew it was time to walk away from the industry. "From the age of six, I was acting, but I got to my early twenties and realised my heart just wasn't in it," she admitted.
"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."
The decision was ultimately made for her in the most unexpected way. "The crunch came when I was accepted onto a training course that would qualify me to be a therapist," she explained. "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."
A New Career as a Therapist
Now 44, Victoria has built a fulfilling new life far from the cameras. She works as a psychotherapist for individuals and couples, specialising in areas including abuse, bereavement and child-related issues.
Reflecting on her journey on her website, Victoria wrote: "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.
