WHEN EastEnders actress Louisa Lytton walked back into Albert Square as Ruby Allen for the first time

in three years, it was a full circle moment – because not only is Ruby returning as a new mum, but Louisa

welcomed her first child, daughter Aura, three, during her absence from the soap.

“It’s lovely to come in playing a mum now that I’m a mum – there’s nothing like knowing those feelings,” she smiles during an exclusive interview with The Sun’s TV Mag.

“Being a mum has finally given Ruby a purpose in life, which I think has been something that’s been missing for a long time.”

EastEnders fans last saw Ruby in 2021, when she had told Martin that she was pregnant before being carted off in a police car after being arrested for a cannabis farm at the Slaters’.

She gave birth off screen in 2022, which was confirmed to viewers when Chrissie Watts recently told Sharon that Ruby had been her cell mate and had left prison to have a baby.

The exact details of Ruby’s return later this month are being kept under wraps, but one thing’s for certain – she’ll be back with a bang.

“That’s Ruby’s character – she comes in and ruffles feathers, does the wrong thing and says the wrong thing, and she definitely comes back with a lot of drama,” teases Louisa, 35.

“But now she’s a mum, she does have her priorities in order. Although she’ll still make mistakes, I don’t think she’ll go out of her way to make mistakes or make wrong decisions like she has done in the past.

“I was so nervous to come back – just because it’s nerve-wracking starting any job – but within half a day, I felt like I’d never left. It felt new in some aspects, but also just felt like home.

“I’ve been a part of this show for 20 years now, so it feels right for Ruby to come back. I feel like there’s so much we need to wrap up with her. There’s so many characters that she has a history with.”

It helped Louisa that she has such close friends among the cast, including Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) and James Bye (Martin Fowler).

“I’ve stayed really close to both of them,” reveals Louisa, who married husband Ben in the summer of 2022.

“They came to my wedding in Italy. Bless them, they both flew all that way, which I’m so grateful for. I still speak to Lacey, still see her, have been up to her house, I’ve seen her farm, and our kids have met each other, which is really nice.

“That’s what this show does. It creates such bonds that even if there are people here that I haven’t even seen since I’ve left, it feels like no time has passed between you.”

It is, however, the first time Louisa has had to juggle parenthood with the relentless filming schedule of a soap.

“I’ve done other jobs over the time I’ve been away, and I would say each job I’ve done, it’s got that little bit easier with the juggling aspect on part but more difficult on part, because she is older and asking more questions,” shares the actress.

“Ultimately it is really tough for parents, because we live in a society where you have to go back to work. In my case, there was no maternity [pay].

“There’s a constant battle of wanting to be at home with your child but also needing to pay bills.

“At the moment, Aura is just like: ‘Where are you going?’ I haven’t told her what I do.

“But when I came home from this photo shoot with TV Mag, she was like: ‘What’s on your lips?’ because I had lipstick on. She said: ‘You don’t come home with that lipstick on when you go to your other work?’ which is obviously when I’m filming.

“It’s so funny watching their little brains try to compute what on earth is going on. She then said: ‘Are you going to take that off because it’s going to go in your pillow?’

I’m so secure in my role as a mum that it’s sort of made me more secure as a person.”

“She’s a Virgo, so she’s really particular! I’m like: ‘It’s alright. Why are you thinking about washing the sheets?! You’re three!

“Motherhood just puts your life into perspective. I’m a bit calmer and a bit more relaxed now, which is weird because you think it’d make you more frantic, but actually it’s sort of settled me as a person. I’m so secure in my role as a mum that it’s sort of made me more secure as a person.”

And there’s one thing that Louisa loves doing at the weekend with little Aura: watching Strictly Come Dancing. Louisa took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 aged just 17 – the youngest contestant in the show’s history.

“I said: ‘Mummy did this.’ She was like: ‘Huh?!’ I thought: ‘Oh, don’t confuse her!’” grins Louisa, who’s been cheering on her cast mate Jamie Borthwick (Jay Mitchell).

“It’s so funny because for the first few years after doing the show, I couldn’t really watch it because, honestly, the music would still make you nervous.

“But now Aura loves it and we watch it on a Sunday morning because she’s in bed by the time it starts. I haven’t said to her: ‘Oh, that’s Mummy’s friend’ but Jamie is amazing and he’s having such a good time.

“I told him: ‘You should just point your toes a bit more’ and he said: ‘You’re old! You did it years ago.’”

And if she could, she’d jump at the chance to do it again…

“When is the All-Stars version of Strictly?! Because I’m literally waiting with my sequins at the door – let’s put that in the article please!” laughs Louisa.

“I would never say a bad word about Strictly Come Dancing. It was incredible. Myself and [professional dance partner Vincent [Simone] had the best time.

“I would honestly do it every year if I could. I absolutely loved it and I feel really grateful that I got to do it.”