EastEnders star Heather Peace says ‘life isn’t easy’ after ‘unexpected’ achievement following cancer battle
EastEnders star Heather Peace has said that ‘life isn’t easy’ after her ‘unexpected’ achievement months after going public with her cancer battle.
Heather joined the popular BBC soap as Eve Panesar-Unwin in 2021, quickly becoming a fan favourite with viewers.
Fans have been heavily invested in Eve’s romance with her wife Suki Panesar, played by Strictly Come Dancing’s Balvinder Sopal, following years of them fighting to be together.
Heather, who has also starred in Holby City and Waterloo Road, informed her fans earlier in the year that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said at the time: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of October. Since then I’ve undergone surgery and recovery over the Christmas period and today my chemotherapy journey ended. To conclude – I’ve just picked up my medal.”
Heather added: “I’m forever changed. During this time I’ve narrowed my world. I’ve had the most precious time with my wife Ellie and our 3 girls; Annie, Jessie & Lola. Just trying to appreciate every moment of them. I’ve stayed still.
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“I’ve found joy in the simplest of things. Interactions with others have felt honest and real because I’ve had no capacity for small talk. It has felt like such a personal shift. There have been so many positives.”
Keeping fans updated on her progress, including finishing her treatment in May, Heather also shared in recent months that her wife Ellie Dickinson was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
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“Her breast cancer was a smaller, aggressive lump, so she had a lumpectomy and then radiotherapy. Of course then I come along with my 12 cm lump, absolutely ginormous, and mastectomy, chemotherapy, just about to go into radiotherapy.
“She’s like ‘Even that you have to do bigger’. It’s like ‘Hold my beer’,” she stated at the time.
On Monday evening (September 29), it was announced that fans voted Heather as their ‘Soap Superstar’ at the Inside Soap Awards 2025.
Taking to Instagram following the ceremony, where Coronation Street won best soap, Heather thanked fans for their support as she reflected on her cancer journey.
“Thank you to everyone who voted for me for ‘Soap Superstar’ @insidesoapmagazine tonight. It was unexpected and feels like a full stop on this last couple of years. I appreciate every bit of support I’ve been given.
“I feel blessed. I feel thankful. I feel enriched from my experience as weird as that sounds. To anyone embarking on the road I have travelled, I send you all my love.
“I understand your fears and I wish you nothing but love and grounding in what you are about to embark,” Heather said.
She added: “Life isn’t easy, but all the things that are thrown at us, I truly believe, shapes us into being better versions of ourselves. Sending nothing but love to anyone reading this.”
The comments section of Heather’s post saw a number of her EastEnders colleagues and famous friends congratulating her on the win and commending her honesty.
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Stacey Slater actress Lacey Turner said: “You’re just so cool.” Bernie Taylor’s Clair Norris added: “Well deserved recognition of what an amazing woman you are, beautiful words.”
Presenter Gaby Roslin wrote: “So well deserved. You are truly magical. Such a beautiful speech, from the heart with so much love, you are bloody wonderful in every single way.” Singer Katey Brooks stated: “Amazing. So deserved.”
Elaine Peacock’s Harriet Thorpe commented: “So deserved. You are #superwoman.” Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney posted: “Beautiful darling.”