EastEnders’ Maisie Smith in throwback snaps with her former co-stars Patsy Palmer and Joe Swash

She made her very first appearance as Tiffany Butcher on the BBC soap 13 years ago, aged just six.

And Maisie Smith looked simply adorable in throwback snaps with her EastEnders co-stars Patsy Palmer, who played her mum Bianca Jackson, and Joe Swash, who played neighbour Mickey Miller.

In photos shared to her manager mother Julia’s Instagram this week, Maisie, now 19, was also seen posing with Stacey Solomon, who first shot to fame on the sixth series of The X Factor. 

Onscreen mum: Maisie Smith looked simply adorable in a throwback snap with her EastEnders co-star Patsy Palmer, who played her mum Bianca Jackson

In the image with Patsy, a young Maisie could be seen dressed up to the nines in a pink ruffled dress and white faux fur coat as she acted as a bridesmaid to onscreen mum Bianca, as she prepared to tie the knot with Ricky a second time.

The young actress beamed at the camera as she sported a tiara and held a bouquet of flowers as she stood next to a wedding dress-clad Patsy, 48. 

Captioning the throwback snap shared on Thursday, Maisie’s mum Julia noted that it was 13 years since her daughter’s first appearance on the soap and joked that people often mistook Patsy for Maisie’s real mother.

Way back when: In one snap, a young Maisie posed with Joe Swash, 39, who starred on the soap between 2003-2008, at a showbiz party

Way back when: In one snap, a young Maisie posed with Joe Swash, 39, who starred on the soap between 2003-2008, at a showbiz party

Throwback: In photos shared to her manager mother Julia's Instagram this week, Maisie, now 19, was also seen posing with Stacey Solomon, who first shot to fame on the sixth series of The X Factor

Throwback: In photos shared to her manager mother Julia’s Instagram this week, Maisie, now 19, was also seen posing with Stacey Solomon, who first shot to fame on the sixth series of The X Factor

She penned: ‘So on this very day 13 years ago @maisiesmithofficial stepped into the world of EastEnders! I thought it was only right to post a pic of her with her on screen mum @patsypalmerofficial who looked after her for all those years.

‘A lot of people at the time thought they were actually mum & daughter!! In fact she looked more like Patsy than me.’

Meanwhile, Julie took another trip down memory lane late last month as she shared snaps of Maisie with Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon – before the now-couple began dating.

Older: Meanwhile, Maisie, who is now 19,  has continued to star on the soap on and off since 2008, with her character Tiffany currently married to Keegan Baker (pictured last month)

Older: Meanwhile, Maisie, who is now 19,  has continued to star on the soap on and off since 2008, with her character Tiffany currently married to Keegan Baker (pictured last month)

Lookalikes: Captioning the throwback snap shared on Thursday, Maisie's mum Julia noted that it was 13 years since her daughter's first appearance on the soap and joked that people often mistook Patsy for Maisie's real mother

Lookalikes: Captioning the throwback snap shared on Thursday, Maisie’s mum Julia noted that it was 13 years since her daughter’s first appearance on the soap and joked that people often mistook Patsy for Maisie’s real mother

The  way they were: Meanwhile, Julie took another trip down memory lane late last month as she shared snaps of Maisie with Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon - before the now-couple began dating

The  way they were: Meanwhile, Julie took another trip down memory lane late last month as she shared snaps of Maisie with Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon – before the now-couple began dating

In one snap, Joe, 39, who starred on the soap between 2003-2008, leaned in close to Maisie, who donned a pretty pink dress, as they posed at a showbiz party.

While another saw X Factor singer come Loose Women star Stacey, 31, putting her arm around Maisie as they both grinned at the camera at an event. 

Captioning the images, Julia said: ‘A #thursdaythrowback with a bit of a difference today! Not only fellow EastEnder @realjoeswashy but also the lovely @staceysolomon. What was Joe’s character called though?’

Proud mum Julia often shares throwback snaps of her daughter with her EastEnders co-stars, with the manager recently sharing snaps of Maisie with Shona McGarty (Whitney Dean) and Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher).

Memory lane: Proud mum Julia often shares throwback snaps of her daughter with her EastEnders co-stars, recently sharing a snap of Maisie with Shona McGarty (Whitney Dean)

Say cheese: Julia also posted a photo with little Maisie with Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher)

Memory lane: Proud mum Julia often shares throwback snaps of her daughter with her EastEnders co-stars, recently sharing snaps of Maisie with Shona McGarty (Whitney Dean, right) and Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher)

Dancing Queen: Last year the soap star spread her wings and starred on Strictly Come Dancing last year (pictured with pro Gorka Marquez), where she finished runner-up to eventual winner Bill Bailey

Dancing Queen: Last year the soap star spread her wings and starred on Strictly Come Dancing last year (pictured with pro Gorka Marquez), where she finished runner-up to eventual winner Bill Bailey 

Meanwhile, Maisie has continued to star on the soap on and off since 2008, with her character Tiffany currently married to Keegan Baker.

Last year the soap star spread her wings and starred on Strictly Come Dancing last year, where she finished runner-up to eventual winner Bill Bailey.

In January this year, it was revealed that Maisie had quit her role after 13 years as she vowed to crack Hollywood with a major film role.

Sources close to the actress told MailOnline she’s increasingly unlikely to extend her current contract when it expires in October, with bosses set to use her exit as part of the soap’s dramatic Christmas storylines.

Farewell! In January this year, it was revealed that Maisie had quit her role after 13 years as she vowed to crack Hollywood with a major film role

Farewell! In January this year, it was revealed that Maisie had quit her role after 13 years as she vowed to crack Hollywood with a major film role

Maisie, who joined EastEnders when she was just six, has ambitions of starring on the big-screen and is hoping to crack Hollywood with a major film role.

The star is hoping she could follow in the footsteps of her former co-stars, including Ben Hardy and Himesh Patel who featured in box office hits X-Men: Apocalypse and Yesterday. 

A source said: ‘Maisie is hugely ambitious and wants to test herself away from soaps.

‘Starring in movies is a personal goal and seeing how well Ben and Himesh have done, it’s given her hope she could be the next box office star from EastEnders. 

‘The only stumbling block is whether COVID-19 and the knock-on effect of the pandemic will dilute the pool of acting opportunities. 

Exit: Sources close to the actress told MailOnline she's increasingly unlikely to extend her current contract when it expires in October, with bosses set to use her exit as part of the soap's dramatic Christmas storylines

Exit: Sources close to the actress told MailOnline she’s increasingly unlikely to extend her current contract when it expires in October, with bosses set to use her exit as part of the soap’s dramatic Christmas storylines

‘If it remains bleak, the sensible move might be staying put for another year. But the intention is to leave in October.’ 

Since her profile sky-rocketed following Strictly, her management have held talks with various clothing and make-up companies regarding lucrative branding deals she’ll be allowed to take on once out of her BBC contract, which has strict rules against advertising. 

However, MailOnline understands fashion endorsements are not the main incentive behind her decision to leave, with acting ambitions the overriding reason. 

It’s understood Maisie does not want her character Tiffany Butcher-Baker killed off, as she wants to leave the door open for a return to Albert Square. 

Sweet: Maisie (pictured far left in 2011) joined EastEnders in 2008 when she was just six years old, and after leaving in 2014 returned four years later

Sweet: Maisie (pictured far left in 2011) joined EastEnders in 2008 when she was just six years old, and after leaving in 2014 returned four years later

Given she’s been such a fixture on the BBC soap for the majority of her life, Maisie hopes EastEnders bosses will grant her wish. 

The source added: ‘Maisie loves EastEnders and idolises some of her co-stars, some of whom have been great role models for her. 

‘She believes the soap has been the perfect place to learn her trade and she owes them so much. Leaving will be a wrench but at least she knows she could return.’ 

Ambitious: Sources said Maisie is hoping to land a major film role when she leaves the soap, and has also been in talks with major fashion and makeup brands (pictured in 2019)

Ambitious: Sources said Maisie is hoping to land a major film role when she leaves the soap, and has also been in talks with major fashion and makeup brands (pictured in 2019)