Soap star and film actress Martine McCutcheon might be poised for a new chapter in her career: weight loss guru.
Mother-of-one Martine, 43, has been urged by fans to share the secrets to her svelte figure after posting a series of stunning snaps on Instagram.
Martine, who found fame as Tiffany on EastEnders and played Natalie in Love Actually, has showcased her toned physique with increasingly regularity in recent months, including in elegant swimsuit shots.
While she has always been known for her good looks and enviable figure, many fans believe she has never looked better.
Radiant: Martine, 43, has been urged by fans to share the secrets to her svelte figure after posting a series of stunning snaps on Instagram. Pictured, the actress yesterday
Getting better with age: While Martine has always been known for her good looks (pictured, at the Love Actually premiere in 2003), many fans believe she has never looked better
Daring to bare: Martine was showered with praise after sharing this snap in August. The mother-of-one has previously shared her diet plan – but fans want all of her weight loss secrets
Share your secrets! Fans commented on this Instagram snap, asking for weight loss journey
‘You look unreal. Can you please share your weight loss journey?,’ commented one follower on a photo shared yesterday.
Another posted: ‘Yes please share you’re secret weight loss is hard work.’ A third agreed: ‘I’d love to know too.’
Martine, who has shared how she uses Botox to help maintain her radiant complexion, stunned yesterday in a plunging back evening dress for a Hospice UK charity event.
The floor-length satin gown accentuated Martine’s bust and revealed her toned arms.
Followers and famous friends went wild for the photo, with Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle writing: ‘Stunning!’ and First Dates’ Fred Sirieix writing: ‘Oh la, la’.
Martine, who made her children’s TV debut as a teenager, has spoken previously about how growing up in the public eye made her aware of her weight from a young age.
Starting out: Martine walks the BAFTA red carpet in 1999, the year after leaving EastEnders. The actress, who made her children’s TV debut as a teenager, has spoken previously about how growing up in the public eye made her aware of her weight from a young age
In the spotlight: Martine’s figure became the subject of global discussion when her 2003 Love Actually character, Natalie, was teased for her weight (pictured with co-star Hugh Grant)
Glamour girl: Martine on Loose Women in 2016 (left) and 2017 (right). The star is looking even better than she did five years ago – and fans want to know her secrets
Lockdown chic: Martine shared this photo at home during lockdown last year
‘I was always conscious of staying as thin as I could be,’ she said in a 2016 interview. ‘It looked better on camera, meant I could fit into size 8 sample sizes and it was easier and more affordable with stylists.’
When asked how many hurtful comments affected her, she admitted ‘there were hundreds’ and said she body shamed ‘loads of times’.
‘People spoke about me like I was a piece of meat and I can’t believe that’s still going on in this day and age,’ Martine added.
In 2003 her figure became the subject of national attention when her Love Actually character, Natalie, was teased for her weight.
She is called ‘plumpy’ by her father and referred to as ‘chubby’ by other characters. In the final moments of the film, the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) says, ‘God, you weigh a lot!’ as he picks her up.’
Soaking up the sun: Martine stretches out her toned legs in an Instagram snap from June
Fresh-faced: The actress poses in a strappy black dress in a photograph taken in August
Chic: She looked more youthful than ever as she soaked up the last of the summer sun in a pair of large glamorous sunglasses. This photo was shared on her Instagram in September
The actress has defended the film in subsequent interviews, insisting it was supposed to help women see how they are perfect just as they are.
‘Every woman thinks there’s something wrong with them when in actual fact… they are perfect and lovely as they are,’ she said.
‘[Natalie] was meant to be the embodiment of that and I think sometimes people have missed that point.’
Martine, who released a series of dance exercise videos a decade ago, has become a more regular presence on Instagram over the last year, making it easier for fans to see just how amazing she looks.
The star has been honest about how she uses Botox to maintain her youthful glow, pointing a video in August of her most recent treatment.
In 2016, Martine spoke of how she’s grown to love using Botox.
She detailed how she was left ‘looking deranged’ after her first ever session yet persevered and grew to love the facial enhancements.
She said: ‘When I had a really tough time being unwell, and trying to have rapidity and it didn’t go well, it basically showed on my face a lot and I looked ravaged…
‘I just looked in the mirror and thought I’ve always had nice skin, I always had a nice beautiful glow, and it has gone.
‘So I had Botox and I didn’t like it, it made me look a bit strange, and then I had it again, and Oh my god, I loved it, I absolutely loved it, because it didn’t look like I wasn’t me anymore, I just didn’t looked like me but not a creased pillow basically.’