An unbelievably transformed Natalie Cassidy started 2008 looking very different indeed.

In a few months she shed the image of her soap character by losing two and a half stone and dropping four dress sizes. She told Now magazine: "After playing Sonia in EastEnders for 12 years, I thought it'd be good to change my image. I was always bubbly and confident before, but it does make you feel better about yourself. I've become a bit of a fox."

The actress believes that her fitness DVD 'Then and Now Workout' helped her to shed the unwanted weight.