Danielle Harold thinks she was stereotyped as a prostitute or pole dancer after leaving ‘EastEnders’ because of her hair colour.
The 26-year-old actress is returning to the BBC One soap as bleach blonde Lola Pearce, and she "couldn’t wait to be back" in Albert Square without a pole in sight.
She said: "I was stereotyped – it was the classic prostitute or pole dancing role.
"I think it was because of my blonde hair."
But Danielle did also enjoy some great experiences away from Walford, including meeting ‘Kill Bill’ actress Uma Thurman at the Cannes Film Festival.
She said: "Cannes was one of the best experiences. I was in a queue to get an ice cream and Uma was in front of me.
"She dropped her wallet on the floor, and I picked it up to give it back and she said ‘thanks’. That was so insane and also quite awkward."
Danielle has enjoyed being reunited with her on-screen granddad Perry Fenwick – who plays Billy Mitchell on the soap – but admits she was "really nervous" about Lola’s return.
She added to the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "I kept in contact with Perry – he is like my dad, I love him so much.
"It was so overwhelming coming back. You think, do they know who I am? You get really nervous."
Danielle’s Walford return was revealed in December last year, three-and-a-half years after she departed the show in July 2015.
She said: "I’m so excited to be returning to ‘EastEnders’ next year. ‘EastEnders’ was my first acting job and I have so many happy memories from my time there.
"I can’t believe it’s been over three years since I left and I can’t wait to get back and find out what Lola has been up to."
Danielle Harold was stereotyped as pole dancer due to ‘blonde hair’
