Lillia Turner, who plays Lily Slater on EastEnders, has forged a remarkable bond with her on-screen mother Lacey Turner – and the pair share more than just a surname
EastEnders teen Lily Slater is played by Lillia Turner(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
EastEnders star Lillia Turner joined the soap as Lily Slater back in 2020.
The actress may share a surname with her on-screen mum Lacey Turner, but the pair are not related in real life though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
The teenager, who plays feisty Lily on the BBC One soap, has built a warm and genuine relationship with Lacey, who plays Stacey Slater and the bond between them is clear both on and off set.
Lillia was born on 16 March 2009, making her 17 years old, while her on-screen character Lily is currently 16. She took over the role in 2020, having been chosen to breathe new life into the character previously played by Aine Garvey from 2014 to 2019.
Away from the bright lights of Walford, Lillia lives the life of a typical teenager. In May 2025 she temporarily stepped away from EastEnders to focus on her GCSE examinations, demonstrating that despite her impressive acting career, her education remains a firm priority.
She returned to screens in August 2025, picking up where she left off and continuing to impress both fans and fellow cast members alike.
One of the most charming glimpses into Lillia’s life away from the soap came when she teamed up with co-star Thomas Law, who plays Peter Beale, for an impromptu singing session.
The pair took advantage of a break on set to record a rendition of Best Part by Daniel Caesar, with Law posting a snippet of the performance on Instagram, writing: “[Lillia] and I stealing the echos from the staircase for our teaser version of this beautiful song.”
The clip quickly drew warm reactions from their EastEnders colleagues. Bobby Brazier, who plays Freddie Slater, wrote: “Omg so happy to see, yes lilia,” while Denise Fox star Diane Parish called them “Cutie pies.” Lauren Branning actress Jacqueline Jossa added: “Lillia amazing beautiful girl x.”
The performance offered a peek at a hidden talent that has clearly delighted her castmates, with Lillia’s singing voice earning particular praise in the comments.
Despite not being related in real life, fans frequently mistake Lillia and Lacey for genuine family members thanks to their striking facial similarities, matching surnames and undeniable on-screen chemistry.
Lacey has been vocal in her admiration for her young co-star, heaping praise on Lillia in an interview with Digital Spy.
“Lillia is such a great little actress. There’s something about her that is so warm and so natural, and her instincts are just bang-on,” Lacey said. “She’s been so desperate for a storyline of her own for so many years, so to see her have one is lovely.
“To watch her absolutely nail it has just been brilliant. I’ve tried to stay out of it as much as I can because Lillia actually doesn’t need any help, tips or guidance because she’s just great. She’s got something that is so natural that I don’t want to take that away from her.”
It is high praise indeed from one of EastEnders’ most beloved and long-standing stars, and a testament to just how much of an impression the young actress has made since joining the cast.
Since her arrival on EastEnders six years ago, Lillia has tackled some of the soap’s most challenging storylines, most notably when Lily discovered she was pregnant at just 12 years old.
The powerful performance earned Lillia the Best Young Performer award at the 2023 British Soap Awards, cementing her status as one of the most talented young actresses on British television.
More recently, Lily has found herself at the heart of a gripping new storyline surrounding the attack on Joel Marshall, with the character confessing she had been withholding key information about what she witnessed that night.
With her GCSEs behind her, a soap award already on the mantelpiece, and a castful of admirers cheering her on, Lillia’s future both on and off screen looks extraordinarily bright.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer