EastEnders’ Lacey Turner says ‘the world is mad’ as she reveals ‘we’re doing OK’ on parenting
Lacey Turner has exclusively opened up on her decision to take a break from EastEnders, as she says there's 'so much pressure' on women to be perfect mothers
EastEnders’ Lacey Turner, who recently announced her decision to take a break from the soap after 21 years, has exclusively spoken to OK! about the immense pressure women face regarding motherhood. The 37 year old mum-of-three is leaving Walford for now to focus on other projects and enjoy family life with her barber husband Matt Kay and their three children.
She said, “There’s so much pressure out there. So many products, so much advice. You feel like a rabbit in the headlights. But really, we need to get back to basics. And we have to reduce the stigma around formula use – just like other things we’ve learned to talk about over the years. Talking opens the door for others. It makes the conversation normal, and that helps reduce the stigma.”
The actress is supporting a campaign by Bonya’s Formula Fog Hub, which aims to convey that spending more doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality – a message that resonates strongly with the London-born star. She stated: “I want us to get rid of the judgment. No more comparing. No more pressure to have the ‘best’ of everything.”, reports the Mirror.
She further added: “I want people to stop thinking they have to be rich to be good parents. I’d love to get rid of the judgment. The world is mad enough without people being judged for how they parent. I want this campaign to shift the stigma. You don’t need to have the most expensive formula or toys or pram.
“I overheard a couple saving up to have a baby. That shouldn’t be the case. Parenting isn’t about money. It’s about love, time, and doing your best.”
Lacey, who lives in a stunning house in Hertfordshire, which the couple bought in 2020, has Dusty, five, son Trilby, four, and their newest daughter Gipsy Olive, born in January this year. and admits of her offspring, “Time flies,” as she adds that her kids are both “lovely and challenging”.
“The older they get, the more you realise how quickly the little years pass. It’s bonkers. So I take it day by day, week by week. “You feel guilty leaving them, but also guilty for not earning. It’s just never-ending.
But we’ve got to stop judging and start supporting each other. “Seven years on, Lacey laughs as she remembers her approach to motherhood for the first time, when she was pregnant with Dusty Violet. “Before I even had my first child, the list of stuff I was told I needed was ridiculous,” she smiles. “My nan always said, ‘All they need is a full belly, clean clothes, and you.
‘And she was right. Sometimes, I just look at Matt and go, ‘Are we doing this right? But the kids are happy, healthy and (mostly) dressed, so we must be doing OK.”
Lacey, who launched her ‘We Started Here’ podcast this year and has been catching up with fellow soap icons like Anita Dobson and Jessie Wallace to discuss their careers, shared her wisdom: “We’re all just trying our best. And whatever your best looks like, that is enough. Right now, I’m just soaking up the baby cuddles and focusing on family life. But I do miss the chaos of the Square and my work family!”.
