Before making a dramatic exit on the BBC One soap, actress Kierston Wareing played Kirsty Branning for two years.
Since Kirsty arrived in Walford 13 years ago and ruined Christmas Day for the Brannings, it has been 13 years.
Between 2012 and 2014, actress Kierston Wareing played Kirsty Branning in EastEnders and was revealed as Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) secret wife on Christmas Day 2012.
In typical soap opera form, Kirsty’s role as Max’s secret and Tanya Branning’s (Jo Joyner) plot sparked drama and attempted to eject Kirsty from Walford permanently led to drama.
But Kirsty stayed in the Square long enough to fake a pregnancy, kick-start an affair with Carl White (Daniel Coonan), and even try to win back Max’s affections.
Kirsty, of course, failed to bring any renewed romance to life, so she left the Square in Max’s car in January 2014, removing her engagement ring and signing the divorce papers.
Following her EastEnders exit, Kierston, now 49, landed a role on rival Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as drug dealer Ashley Davidson, who was murdered by serial killer Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin).
She has also appeared in a long list of other popular dramas, including Strike, Scott & Bailey with Suranne Jones, and Netflix hit Top Boy.
Additionally, Kierston has appeared in films like Punch (2023), I Love My Mum (2018), and Do Not Disturb (2016).
The former soap star most recently appears in The Death of Bunny Munro as Pamela Stocks. Matt Smith portrays the sex-addicted salesman in the Sky Original series, which was released in November 2025.
Posting a trailer of the series to her official Instagram post, Kieston wrote: “Watch me get it on with Matt Smith. Starting 20th November 2025 on Sky. Directed by @isabellaeklof.”
Kierston runs her own online business and enjoys vintage fashion and antiques in addition to acting.
Following her EastEnders exit, Kieston spoke to The Mirror and branded her soap storyline as “ridiculous” after she was introduced as Max’s “shotgun” wife, Kirsty.
She later stated, “I didn’t believe in any of the storylines. More of a range was what I wanted. Why would Kirsty continue to pursue Max when he had a ton of baggage, it wasn’t plausible? It’s completely absurd.
By the time it was finished, she was completely wet. There were layers to the show when I first started watching it: “Is she nice? ” She’s not nice, isn’t she? ‘. All of these ideas were mine. No one wanted to do anything like that, despite my desire for it to be extremely gritty.
Source: Mirror
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