AN EX EastEnders star has revealed how fat jabs “don’t work” after her weight loss, as she also opened up on her struggle to get TV jobs.

Soap fans know actress Nina Wadia, 57, for playing Zainab Masood in the BBC soap for six years over a decade ago.

Since leaving the Square, the actress has embraced a healthier life and has lost weight as a result.

As well as taking part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, she enjoys exercise and “keeping active”.

In a candid new interview with The Sun, Nina opened up about her healthy lifestyle and why she thinks fat jabs, which are frequently used in the celebrity world, “don’t work”.

Speaking about her weight loss, the soap star told us: “For me I have done it very very slowly.

“I exercise. I walk. i eat healthier. i think its better to do it that way.”

Referring to fat jabs, Nina said: “Quick fixes never work. it’s a change in lifestyle. I’ve just done work with the NHS on this,

“This Girl Can campaign, its very important about being active as you get older. I’m very passionate about it. And to do it naturally. I don’t like young girls getting these facelifts. Just enjoy your natural beauty. It doesn’t last long. Enjoy it while its there and age gracefully.”

She added: “I think mental health is really important and a general level of exercise helps your mental health as well.

“So look after yourself and each other. I’m eating more vegetarian food and I’m juicing a lot. I love chocolate but I’m having dark chocolate now.”

WORK STRUGGLE

Before EastEnders, the actress had enjoyed huge success in the 90s with the comedy show, Goodness Gracious Me.

Nina also starred in the Vicar of Dibley alongside Dawn French.

However, Nina candidly opened up about to The Sun about her struggle to find work these days.

“As you get older jobs get a bit more scarce. Just generally speaking its just trying to balance career and lifestyle,” she told us.

“It’s hard being a mother and having this career because you do have to prioritise being a mother, that is the most important thing. Every once in a while something will come up where you go what?

“Throughout my career there has been moments of discrimination for being a mother, and I’ve chosen motherhood over the work, and they’ve been like okay, well maybe we won’t see you for another couple of years. It’s tough.”

LEAVING EASTENDERS

The actress first arrived in EastEnders in 2007 before eventually leaving Walford behind in 2013.

In the summer, over a decade on from when she quit, Nina addressed the reasons behind her decision to leave.

During an appearance on Channel 5‘s Vanessa, she explained to host Vanessa Feltz: “When the storylines get so ridiculous and so difficult, you kind of think ‘I’m out’”.

The actress continued: “The reason I left was because the storylines were getting ridiculous.

“That was one of the reasons I left. There were several, but that was one of the main reasons.

“My husband Masood was going to have yet another affair.

“And I was like, ‘How can I react any differently [to the] way I reacted before when he told me he was having an affair?”

Nina revealed Zainab’s initial brief had been “Pauline Fowler, but funny.”

Having provided levity and comic relief for two years, she was confused to receive a domestic violence storyline.

The star continued: “You thought, ‘How can I be funny with that storyline? I don’t understand.’

“I think that’s what happens when you have a change at the top, with the execs, they bring in their vision.

“Someone who hasn’t really been paying attention to what your character’s been doing – all of a sudden, you’re asked to do something absolutely ridiculous.”

Nina later added: “That’s why I wanted to come out of it for a while.

“Hopefully, at some point, they invite me back, it’ll be for something more interesting to do.”