STAR SLAM Clair Norris’s EastEnders co-star defends her with sweet post after she’s called ‘fat’ by cruel trolls

EASTENDERS actress Clair Norris’ co-star has stepped up to defend her after she was branded “fat” by cruel trolls.

The BBC screen star, 28, revealed the shocking online bullying in her new Instagram video.

Clair, who played much-loved Bernie Taylor, was axed from the soap last summer.

Her latest clip sees her posing in a pink and white patterned dress on a beautiful sunny day.

Though her caption read: “Being called “fat”? Hallelujah”.

London-born Clair continued: “Fat — but not unkind, not selfish, not a nasty person.

“Fat — but still a good friend, a loving sister, a proud daughter.

“If the only thing someone can find to criticise is my appearance, I’ll take that every time.

“Because character will always outweigh looks.

“And I’d rather be remembered for how I love than how I look”.

Her fans – and famous followers – were quick to react to the bullying.

Lorraine Stanley, who plays EastEnders‘ Karen Taylor and her on-screen mum, was quick to comment: “You’re beautiful inside and out”.

Her co-star Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, added: “Beautiful,” and a red Emoji love heart.

Previously, Clair exclusively told The Sun of her devastating soap exit.

She first started playing the role of Bernie back in 2017, but following the departure of her entire family over the last few years, the soap’s top boss decided to axe her much-loved character in 2025.

Despite the “upsetting” decision, Clair now says she’s excited for the future.

Speaking on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards last year, she said: “Obviously it’s upsetting but also I’d been there for eight years, which is a long time to play a character, and I have absolutely loved being in the show.

“They gave me the opportunity to learn on the job and also now I am able take that onto other things that I do.

“Of course it’s sad but at the same time it felt like a natural end, with the Taylors being gone, it kind of felt right. I’m now very excited about the future.”

Clair revealed how she took her character’s iconic coat as a memento as well as the Walford Pride t-shirt she wore during the soap’s first ever gay pride event.

She said: “I have taken Bernie’s coat. It was so iconic! And also the t-shirt that Bernie wore for Pride with ‘Walford Pride’ on it, little bits here and there. Also her badge when it was her birthday.”

The screen star then raised cash to pay her bills by flogging her old clothes for £10.

We were then first to report how she was being lined up for a more glam screen role in a rival soap.

Clair spoke to The Sun, on behalf of Casino.org, where she addressed what kind of role she would be interested to portray in a rival soap.

She said: “I’d definitely like to play somebody different from Bernie.

“Maybe someone glam or maybe someone, I don’t know, rock, emo, chick.

But yeah, something completely different would be great.

Asked whether she’d consider joining another soap, the actress answered: “Never say never!

“I love soap, and now that I’ve got quite a few years of experience in it, I really appreciate how it all works”.