# Maisie Smith
**Maisie Smith** (full name Maisie Louise Collender Smith) is an English actress and singer, best known for playing [Tiffany Butcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiffany-butcher)-Baker in the BBC soap opera *EastEnders* from 2008 to 2022. She joined the show as a six-year-old and grew up in the role, and later reached the final of *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2020 before moving into musical theater.[1](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001, in Westcliff, Essex, England[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/) |
| Signature role | Tiffany Butcher-Baker in *EastEnders*, on and off between April 2008 and March 2022[1](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith) |
| Screen debut | [The Other Boleyn Girl](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-other-boleyn-girl-2008-film) (2008), as a young Queen Elizabeth, alongside Scarlett Johansson and Eddie Redmayne[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith) |
| Strictly | Reached the final of the 2020 series with Gorka Marquez, losing to Bill Bailey; won the Strictly Children in Need special in 2019 with Kevin Clifton[4](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/eastenders-maisie-smith-left-what-next-eastenders-14694/) • [3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith) |
| Music | First single "Good Thing" released in October 2016[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/) |
| Stage career | Fran in the UK tour of Strictly Ballroom The Musical (2022); Beth in Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds – Spirit of Man Tour 2025; Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester (2026)[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith) • [5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Maisie-Smith/) |
Sources differ on her exact birth date: IMDb gives 2001, while most other profiles, including the [EastEnders](https://www.edgepedia.org/eastenders) fan wiki and [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide), give 9 July 2001[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2923297/) • [1](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith) • [2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/).
## EastEnders
Smith joined the cast of *EastEnders* in April 2008 at the age of six, as Tiffany, the daughter of [Bianca Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bianca-jackson). She stayed in the role until 2014, leaving when her on-screen mother (played by [Patsy Palmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/patsy-palmer)) departed; she played Tiffany for six years at that point[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/) • [1](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith).
Her returns kept the character on screen into adulthood. She made a brief appearance in November 2016 for her on-screen sister [Whitney Dean](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-dean)'s wedding, came back as a full-time regular in January 2018, and left again in December 2021 when Tiffany departed for Germany after her marriage to Keegan Butcher-Baker broke down. In March 2022 she made a one-off return to give Keegan (Zack Morris) an alibi and exit the Square with him in his farewell story[1](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith) • [4](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/eastenders-maisie-smith-left-what-next-eastenders-14694/).
The performance earned her awards recognition: she won "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor" at the British Soap Awards and "Best Young Actor" at the Inside Soap Awards[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith).
## Dancing and stage work
Smith's dancing profile grew through two *Strictly Come Dancing* appearances. In 2019 she won the Strictly Children in Need special, performing the cha-cha with [Kevin Clifton](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-clifton), though she described the win on *This Morning* as a "fluke" with "no technical ability at all"[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/). In the main 2020 series she was partnered with Gorka Marquez and reached the final, losing the glitterball trophy to [Bill Bailey](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-bailey) and [Oti Mabuse](https://www.edgepedia.org/oti-mabuse)[4](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/eastenders-maisie-smith-left-what-next-eastenders-14694/). Her early exit from the dance-off that season drew commentary about how the public treats confident young contestants[7](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-dance-off-women-b1761034.html).
**Musical theater followed.** After touring with *Strictly Presents: Keep Dancing* in 2022, she made her musical theater debut as Fran in the UK and Ireland tour of *Strictly Ballroom The Musical*, based on the [Baz Luhrmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/baz-luhrmann) film, opposite Kevin Clifton; the role earned her a nomination for Best Performer in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith) • [8](https://wolverhampton-grand-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/docs/autumn-winter-2022-2023.pdf). In 2025 she toured arenas across the UK and Europe as Beth in [Jeff Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-wayne)'s *The War of the Worlds – Spirit of Man Tour 2025*[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith). In September 2026 she opened as Audrey in *Little Shop of Horrors* at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, and released a rehearsal video of "Somewhere That's Green" ahead of the run[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Maisie-Smith/).
## Music and screen beyond the soap
Smith released her first single, "Good Thing", in October 2016, followed by the songs "Not Gonna Cry" and "Where My Heart Is"[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/). She has said many of her songs were personal and that she wanted to write a song that inspired others[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/).
Her film and television work outside the soap includes the 2024 British gangster comedy *Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire*, in which she played Chloe[3](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith) • [2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/). In 2022 she took part in the [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) series *Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins*, where at 21 she was the youngest recruit and said she wanted to separate herself from her *EastEnders* character and gain confidence off screen[9](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/maisie-smith-recruit-number-12). Her self appearances span game and talk shows including *Richard Osman's House of Games*, *The Wheel*, *Morning Live*, and *Celebrity Chase*[10](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maisie-smith/credits/3000763650/).
## Public profile
Smith's personal life has drawn press attention, particularly her relationship with the former [The Wanted](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wanted) singer [Max George](https://www.edgepedia.org/max-george), whom she met when both competed on *Strictly* in 2020; the pair went public in 2022 and live together, and their age gap was the subject of online commentary that Max George publicly pushed back against in November 2022[2](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/). Her verified Instagram account, @maisiesmithofficial, had 981,753 followers as of October 18, 2026[11](https://igdatahub.com/blog/maisiesmithofficial-instagram-profile-stats/). In interviews after leaving the soap she has said she will "always be known as, first off, little Tiff from EastEnders", but has welcomed the chance to explore different characters[12](https://extra.ie/2026/02/12/entertainment/maisie-smith-new-role).
## References
1. [Maisie Smith | EastEnders Wiki](https://eastenders.fandom.com/wiki/Maisie_Smith)
2. [Maisie Smith: 'Disgusting' prank that backfired & defending age gap, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-max-george-age-gap-the-wheel-sister-eastenders-boyfriend-eastenders-10378/)
3. [Maisie Smith | Bristol Old Vic](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/maisie-smith)
4. [Maisie Smith returns to EastEnders as Tiffany reunites with Keegan, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/eastenders-maisie-smith-left-what-next-eastenders-14694/)
5. [Maisie Smith - Broadway & Theatre Credits | BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Maisie-Smith/)
6. [Maisie Smith - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2923297/)
7. [Strictly Come Dancing proves once again that the public can't handle confident young women, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/strictly-come-dancing-maisie-smith-dance-off-women-b1761034.html)
8. [Wolverhampton Grand Theatre programme, Autumn/Winter 2022–23](https://wolverhampton-grand-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/docs/autumn-winter-2022-2023.pdf)
9. [MAISIE SMITH – RECRUIT NUMBER 12 | Channel 4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/maisie-smith-recruit-number-12)
10. [Maisie Smith List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maisie-smith/credits/3000763650/)
11. [Maisie Louise Collender Smith Instagram Stats | IGDataHub](https://igdatahub.com/blog/maisiesmithofficial-instagram-profile-stats/)
12. [Maisie Smith on life after EastEnders and her chilling new role, Extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2026/02/12/entertainment/maisie-smith-new-role)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › British and Australasian soaps and characters › EastEnders › EastEnders cast members*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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