Actress Kirsty Curtis has expressed her heartfelt thanks to her fellow cast members and the rest of the team in EastEnders as she took to Instagram to reflect on her time in the soap.

Kirsty’s character Keeley Wainwright first came into the show when Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) went to Milton Keynes.

The two women locked horns when Whitney confronted Keeley over her treatment of her daughter Britney (Lola Campbell) and Whitney offered Keeley money to take Britney off her hands and take her back to Albert Square.

This storyline paved the way for Whitney’s exit from the show after 16 years.

Kirsty’s time on the show may have been brief, but it had a huge impact on the actress who says in her post,

‘I took on Keeley at a really dark time of my life, I didn’t even know if I was capable at that moment in time to do the job. Playing you was heartbreaking, emotional & truly painful, but such a release She helped me get through my struggle, without you I’m not sure where I would be today.’

The post is accompanied by a gallery of photographs, some of scenes showing Kirsty appearing alongside co-stars Patsy Palmer and James Farrar. Kirsty has previously paid tribute to her old friend James Farrar and she thanks him here for ‘Looking after me and being my off screen coach going over scripts with me and keeping me positive every calm every day.’

Whitney following Keeley in EastEnders
Keeley was the mother of Britney, the young girl Whitney fostered (Picture: BBC)
Whitney and Keeley talking in EastEnders
Kirsty worked alongside Shona prior to her departure (Picture: BBC)
She also thanks EastEnders’ executive producer Chris Clenshaw for trusting her with the role and says the job ‘saved’ her.

‘I feel so privileged to have been a part of the soap I grew up watching,’ she wrote. ‘Always dreamed of being there. I’ve never felt so at home in all my life. Waited such a long time to be apart of this show, and all though it was short and sweet it was well worth the wait.’

Other pictures in the gallery show Keeley being arrested by the police, and in another she’s in her dressing room sporting make-up bruises and dark circles around her eyes. Kirsty thanks the show’s makeup and wardrobe team ‘for making me not so glam every day.’

After also thanking her co-stars Patsy and Shona – saying that in Shona she had made ‘a special friend for life’ – she has a special note for her on-screen daughter Britney, played by Lola Campbell. ‘My superstar on screen daughter, @lola_campbell_2010 I watched you in ‘Scrapper’ and was itching to work with you.’

Kirsty says she’s been in ‘denial’ about leaving the show and ‘can’t believe it’s over.’ She signs off with the hope she might one day return.

‘Who knows, Keeley Wainwright may return to Albert Square. 😜 Until next time Walford 🔥🎬❤️’.