Lucy Benjamin EXCLUSIVE: I Would Return To EastEnders

Lucy Benjamin wouldn’t rule out a return to EastEnders and her most famous character Lisa Fowler.

The 46-year-old actress starred as Phil Mitchell’s on/off lover for five years and played a huge part in one of the soap’s most gripping storylines as part of the ‘Who Shot Phil?’ saga.

Copyright: Wenn

Lucy’s last stint on the Square was in 2010 when she was brought back for one episode about Peggy Mitchell’s exit, and speaking about life after the job that rocketed her to fame, she exclusively told Yahoo Celeb that she would consider reprising Lisa once more if the opportunity arises.

Asked whether she regrets her time on the soap and the media attention she received when she dated and then split from EastEnder’s actor Steve McFadden in real life, she said: “I regret nothing, absolutely nothing, I had a ball for the five and a bit years I was there. You say 'never say never’ about going back, and you don’t know the way things will evolve, look at Gilly (Gillian Anderson who plays Kathy Mitchell), she’s back again after a long time.”

Since leaving EastEnders the TV star – who has two children with her husband Richard Taggart – admitted she has become a “jobbing actress” and has been a “victim” of her own success, because she was unable to shake off Lisa’s persona.

She said: “The problem with soaps is you can become a victim of your own success, if your character is really successful it takes a long time to lay that character to rest and people see you as that character for a long time.

“So is being a mum, and taking time out, and trying to put your hand back in. Keeping things ticking over. Because people kind of think that if you’re not on television four or five times a week in their front room you’re not doing anything anymore.”

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However, Lucy enjoys the flexibility her new life out of the spotlight has afforded her.

She said: “It’s lovely for me now, because I can do different things, I worked with Tamzin Outhwaite recently on New Tricks, so I like being more of a jobbing actress, it feels really great to be able to dip in and out. I don’t know how it would be, being a full time mum and a full time actress on EastEnders, I think it would be tricky.”

The actress attended the National Lottery Stars, which airs tonight at 10:45pm on BBC One, and asked how she’d spend £10 million, she added: “I’d be quite frivolous in some respects, I think being an actor and often being out of work, you never know when the next penny is coming from! I’d probably save a bit for my kids, but a flat each for them for when they get older and invest in school fees.”

We’d love to see Lucy back in Walford challenging Sharon Watts and Shirley Carter for Phil’s affection. Petition, anyone?