Former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon has been declared bankrupt for a second time, according to court documents. The 49-year-old actress, who shot to fame in the soap and later starred in Love Actually, was issued with a bankruptcy order in March at the County Court in Guildford following a petition from finance company LDF Finance. The ruling was made under her married name, Martine McManus.
This is not the first time McCutcheon has faced financial difficulties. Despite once boasting an estimated £2 million fortune, she was declared bankrupt in 2013 after accumulating debts of around £187,000, including a £150,000 tax bill. She was released from bankruptcy a year later. The latest insolvency comes as she and her estranged husband, Jack McManus, put their £1.5 million Surrey home up for sale last year, having spent £1.3 million on it just three years prior.
McCutcheon's personal life has also been turbulent. She announced her separation from McManus in 2024 after 18 years of marriage, with the couple sharing a 10-year-old son, Rafferty. The split was announced on social media, with McCutcheon stating, 'After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it's best for us to separate after 18 years together, and I accept his decision.'
Adding to her woes, McCutcheon's relationship with her mother, Jenny Tomlin, has been strained since the death of her brother Laurence John in 2022. Tomlin has spoken publicly about her regret over pushing her daughter away during her grief, saying, 'I want the chance to say sorry. I miss her so much – it physically hurts.' Despite attempts at reconciliation, including a visit to McCutcheon's home, the reunion was described as 'awkward' and 'heavy,' and Tomlin says she has received no response from her daughter.
Amid these challenges, McCutcheon recently took to Instagram to share a topless photo, mourning the end of summer and pleading for more sun. She wrote, 'Take me back to the sun and sea... This lady needs her vitamin D.' The post comes as she navigates divorce, bankruptcy, and family estrangement.
