EastEnders In 2004, Turner went on to audition for the role of
Demi Miller on the
BBC soap opera EastEnders. Though she failed to get that part, she was instead given the role of
Stacey, a new addition to the popular Slater family. She started in the soap the day after leaving school, and made her first appearance on-screen in November 2004. Commenting on the role, Turner said: "I always dreamt of being on the show and so I can't believe that I've fulfilled my greatest ambition!" Since joining the show, her character has featured in numerous high-profile storylines, including
abortion,
drug abuse, a troubled relationship with her mother, discovering she has
bipolar disorder, an affair with her father-in-law and
the murder of her rapist
Archie Mitchell (
Larry Lamb). Turner starred in a live episode of
EastEnders on 19 February 2010 to celebrate the
25th anniversary of the soap opera. The live episode gained over 16.6 million viewers which saw Stacey's husband die after falling from a rooftop during a police chase before Stacey's confession that she murdered Archie Mitchell. After her co-star
Charlie Clements who played her husband left in February 2010,
EastEnders bosses declared that they are keen to retain Turner after proving her popularity with viewers, She stated: "I'll miss Stacey and everyone in Albert Square very much but the time has come to try something different." Turner later revealed that she had agreed with
Charlie Clements to leave
EastEnders at the same time as him. Of the decision, Turner said: "Charlie and I always said we'd go at the same time. For quite a while I'd been saying I was going to go and kept realising I wasn't ready. But when Charlie said he was going last year I was like, 'Right, OK, I'm going too'." She departed on-screen on 25 December 2010. On 6 December 2013, it was announced that Turner would be returning to
EastEnders, to reprise her role as Stacey. Turner began filming in January 2014. She made her on-screen return on 7 February 2014 and departed on 25 March 2014. She returned full-time in August 2014. Since returning to the show she has featured in a highly acclaimed
postpartum psychosis storyline. Turner took maternity leave from the soap in August 2019 and April 2021 respectively. During her third maternity leave in February 2025, Turner returned a month after giving birth to star in a live episode celebrating the
40th anniversary of the soap opera. In May 2025, whilst Turner was on her third maternity leave, it was reported that she would be departing the role as Stacey once again later in the year in order to explore other opportunities and spend time with family but that the "door would be left open" for Turner to return "when she's ready" according to an
EastEnders spokesperson. It was also revealed that a "dramatic" exit storyline was being planned. Turner's character has proven popular with fans and critics, and the actress
has won multiple awards for her portrayal.
Further roles and Our Girl in January 2011 Turner was cast as
Lia Shaman in the third series of
Being Human. She appeared in its first episode broadcast on 23 January 2011, watched by 1.37 million viewers (5%). She reprised her role for the series finalé. In March 2011, she played Elizabeth Lavenza, the bride of
Victor Frankenstein (played by Andrew Gower), in an adaptation of
Mary Shelley's 1818 novel
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus titled ''
Frankenstein's Wedding'', which aired on
BBC Three, live from the derelict
Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, in front of an audience of 12,000. The show was nominated for a national
RTS award, but did win a RTS Yorkshire award. Turner appeared alongside
David Tennant,
Billie Piper,
David Morrissey,
Jane Horrocks,
Ashley Walters and
Vicky McClure in the
BBC One improvisational programme,
True Love, which aired in June 2012. Also in June, she played the leading role of Ellie, a character who claims to see ghosts and spirits, in the second series of
Bedlam. In October, she starred in the
ITV2 supernatural drama series,
Switch, which centres on the story of four young witches living in contemporary London. Turner's character is referred to as the "immaculately dressed" careerist Stella. Turner later played
Molly Dawes in a one-off 90-minute drama titled
Our Girl. She began filming in BBC Elstree Studios in October 2012 and the film aired on BBC One on 24 March 2013. This was then followed by a
five-part television series which began airing on BBC One on 21 September 2014.
Michelle Keegan took over from the
second series in a new role when Turner decided to concentrate on
EastEnders in 2016.
Other work In December 2010, Turner advertised
Royal Mail campaign to remind people of Christmas postal deadlines. In October 2012, Turner joined
Asda Tickled Pink campaign. She has also done voice over work in the
CITV programme,
Goodbye Year Six and narrated BBC Three's ''Don't Just Stand There, I'm Having Your Baby
. Turner also starred in radio dramas, The One about the Social Worker
and Up the Junction'', which aired on
BBC Radio 4 in September 2013. She later appeared in the
Channel 5 documentary
Miscarriage: Our Story in October 2020, where she spoke of suffering a miscarriage while at work. In August 2024, it was announced that Turner would begin hosting a podcast, titled
We Started Here, celebrating celebrities whose careers began on
soap operas. The podcast began in January 2025, and has featured guests including her
EastEnders co-stars
Jessie Wallace and
Anita Dobson. ==Personal life==