Maisie Smith details how life has changed since boyfriend Max George's devastating open heart surgery
Stopping for a chat with new during the Tric Awards at JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London last month, Maisie, who turns 24 this week, says her boyfriend's health struggles have not only strengthened their tight bond, but transformed the choices they make in life.
'It has just made us realise how important life is and how much we've just got to live in the moment – you never know what's around the corner,' says Maisie. 'We're definitely more impulsive now and we know that anything is possible.'
Maisie, who rose to fame for her role in EastEnders, which she made her debut in at just six years old, has been in a relationship with Max since 2022. The couple met in 2020 while competing on Strictly Come Dancing, striking up a friendship during the show, which saw Maisie reach the final alongside her professional dance partner Gorka Márquez.
Max may not have been as successful on the dancefloor (he was voted out of Strictly in week four), but he did find lasting love with Maisie beyond the show and the pair eventually moved in together in Max's hometown, Manchester.
However, in what has been an undeniably scary year for the couple, Max underwent surgery in December when his heart condition left him in need of a pacemaker.
Following the operation, Max, 36, described the pacemaker as the 'best Christmas present' he could have received. But after complications from the first surgery, he was forced to go back for another procedure two months later.
Sharing that it was successful, Max said at the time, 'It turned out that one of the leads was placed too far into my heart. The second pacemaker surgery took about two hours. So far, it seems to have been a success and they kindly let me listen to Oasis the whole time. It's been a setback, but it's just one of those things. I've had a few complications the last couple of months but I'm having loads of tests to make sure everything is all good. I'm sure I'll be back on top form in no time.'
Maisie is clearly hugely relieved that everything is OK with him. 'Max is good – he's getting stronger every day,' she says. 'I'm so proud of how he's handled it too.'
As we ask whether the situation has brought them any closer, Maisie laughs, saying, 'It was pretty hard for us to get any closer to be honest – we've always been inseparable.' Sharing that they're heading to France for a getaway this summer, it seems things are finally looking up for the duo.
What began as a Strictly friendship, blossomed into romance after the pair grew closer on the show's live arena tour. Their series of Strictly was broadcast during the height of Covid, with social distancing restrictions in place, but they both joined the first post-pandemic live tour in January 2022. In the summer of that year, they were spotted on holiday together in Crete and, as anyone who follows their Instagram accounts will know, they've been smitten with each other ever since.
Maisie is also busy in her professional life, which has seen her pursuing a musical theatre career, even working alongside Max. Most recently, she appeared in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds with Max, where they play married couple Parson Nathaniel and his wife Beth, after Maisie played Belle in a pantomime version of Beauty And The Beast in Canterbury.
So, what's next on the horizon? 'I can't actually tell you what I'm working on right now – I'm not allowed,' says Maisie. 'But I'm still loving doing theatre and that's my main focus.'
As for the soap that propelled her to fame, she may have come a long way since playing Tiffany Butcher, but she maintains she still calls Albert Square home. 'I always say with EastEnders, you never know,' she says. 'Never say never about me returning. I grew up there and it is my home, but right now I'm loving doing my theatre work.'
Maisie may not be planning her grand return to the soap any time soon, but she did get the chance to catch up with some former co-stars as EastEnders bagged the Soap Of The Year gong at the ceremony. With stars such as Emma Barton in attendance, she says, 'It's been great catching up with people. That's why I love award shows and things like this – you see people you haven't seen in about 10 years.'
Maisie says she's also used the opportunity to spend a girlie day with her mum, Julia, who is also her manager. 'I've brought my mum along today,' she says. 'I take her everywhere.'
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