by NICOLA MOYNE
nicola@theenquirer.co.uk

Lucy Benjamin is a woman who has been through the mill. Having starred as Lisa Fowler in EastEnders for five years, the bubbly actress is as renowned for her turbulent relationship with co-star Steve McFadden (who plays Phil Mitchell), as she is for her acting.
However, speaking to me this week from the set of her new play, The Pretender Agenda, things seem to have settled down for the 38-year-old.
And she’s looking forward to the play’s opening night today (Thurs) in London.
“I’m really happy with how things are going,” Lucy, from Gidea Park, says.
“The play is great fun and really well written. It follows six thirty-somethings who go to their boss’s house for a work party – and things just get out of hand.
“There’s all these people there with different agenda’s - it’s all about the way the group interacts, which is what drew me to the part.”
However, another pull was that her character, Mel, is as far removed from Lisa Fowler as possible.
“I’m normal,” Lucy laughs. “Mel is a nice person – a regular girl. I’m not a psycho, or a murderer, which is a nice change.
“But strangely, it’s a lot more difficult to play, because you have to really know your character and do a lot of background research.” And starring with Lee Ryan, of boy band Blue fame, as well as Vincenzo Pellegrino, of Casualty, and Emily Aston, of Coronation Street, the mum-of-one has found the whole experience an enjoyable one.
“We’ve only had two weeks of rehearsal, so it’s really nerve-wracking for us all at the moment,” Lucy says.
“But from the first day we all just gelled.  We all walked in and said ‘oh that’s so-and-so from the tv’, which was funny.”
However, despite rumours that Lucy was set to rejoin EastEnders earlier this year, she assures me it’s not on the cards right now.
“I’d never say never to EastEnders, but after winning the celebrity X Factor a few years ago, it seems like a good idea to try and make musicals my next step,” she says.
“I would have done it earlier, but my daughter came along.”
Indeed, now a devoted mum to one-year-old Bessie, Lucy is enjoying spending time as a family with her husband Richard.
“I have a great work/life balance now,” she says. “As soon as the play ends in September I’m going to Dubai for a break, and then who knows,” she laughs. “Nothing is ever definite as an actress.”
The Pretender Agenda shows at the New Player Theatre, Charing Cross, until 27 September. www.newplayerstheatre.com.