AN EASTENDERS star has revealed her shock after being reunited with two old college pals when she joined Albert Square.

Ellie Dadd, 20, revealed she knew two of her co-stars long before landing her big break on the BBC One soap – and was gobsmacked to find them on set when she started.

The star joined EastEnders three years ago as troubled teen Amy Mitchell.

She has taken on some of the toughest storylines as the troubled teen – from self-harm to mental health struggles.

But now the young star is ready for something very different that’s worlds away from soapland.

This Christmas, Ellie will be swapping the drama of Walford for the magic of panto, taking centre stage as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Fairfield Halls.

Ellie’s no stranger to the panto spotlight – as she reveals she’s already a seasoned pro.

She told the Mirror: “I started panto when I was six. I did it for four years, age six to 10. It was the best time ever.

“Isn’t it every girl’s dream to play a princess at least once in their lives?”

And she even met her future co-stars Tilly Keeper (who played Louise Mitchell) and Zack Morris (who played Keegan Baker) long before her Albert Square debut.

Ellie added: “We trained together at the D&B Academy of Performing Arts.

“It was quite fun seeing them when I got there. I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness!’”

Panto is no walk in the park, with gruelling double-show days and barely any time off.

But Ellie said that soap life has prepped her well.

“EastEnders has taught me a lot,” she explained.

“We film 14 scenes a day and we’re there five days a week. If a scene’s not going to plan, you’ve got to think on your feet.

“You learn to trust your instincts.”

And although she’s stepping away for a sprinkle of festive magic, fans won’t have to wait long to see her back in Walford.

“They’re just letting me have a couple of weeks off – and then I’ll be back,” she confirmed.