A former EastEnders star, who decided to step away from the limelight and pursue a fitness-focused career, looks unrecognisable since her last appearance on the soap 13 years ago.

Child star Molly Conlin first appeared on the BBC show in 2008 as Dot Cotton's granddaughter, Kirsty "Dotty" Cotton, but the now 22-year-old has since swapped acting for picking up dumbbells in the gym.

She was just seven years old when she joined the cast, initially hoping to play the role of Tiffany Dean (portrayed by Maisie Smith) but was considered too old.

With the notorious criminal Nasty Nick as her father, Dotty soon proved to be a chip off the old block when she turned up in Walford ready to help her dad carry out his wicked plan of killing mum Dot, played by June Brown, to inherit her money.

But their plans were foiled when Dotty ended up developing a special bond with her grandmother, leading her to sabotage the evil plan in the nick of time.

She was a staple on the soap for two years, but after bidding farewell to Albert Square in 2010, Dotty was then recast nine years later, with Milly Zero instead stepping in to take over the role.

Molly previously spoke to The Sun about the recast, saying: "They did approach me, unfortunately they wanted the new Dotty to go back and appear a lot older and be played by someone in their 20s.

"Of course, I would have loved to have returned to EastEnders, but I believe everything happens for a reason."

The actress did go on to appear in other TV shows such as BBC's Blandings and Horrible Histories, but she has now embraced a lifestyle that is vastly different from her earlier days on EastEnders.

Molly's focus has shifted towards her health and fitness journey, with the child star co-managing an account with her friend where they update their followers on their fitness progress.

On her personal account, the influencer boasts 25k followers and regularly posts enviable snaps of herself looking incredible.

Additionally, her love for travel takes her to serene locations around the world, with Molly often sharing images of herself relaxing under the sun with refreshing cocktails.

Molly has never ruled out returning to the BBC One soap, and with Kim Medcalfe returning as Sam Mitchell despite being previously replaced as Danniella Westbrook, a similar scenario has happened before.