Eastenders actress, Tiana Benjamin, has revealed that she is still glad that she chose her role on the BBC One soap opera over a role in the Harry Potter films.

Tiana was hired to play Chelsea Fox on Eastenders in 2006 after she appeared as Angelina Johnson in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. She initially tried to juggle both jobs but as schedules became too demanding she chose her soap career over her movie one.

“The dates kept changing,” Tiana told the Sunday Mirror. “And EastEnders had to say in the end, ‘It’s us or them.’ I didn’t have to think too hard. I was very, very lucky to even cough in that film. But I’d grown up with EastEnders. I made the right choice.”

Benjamin also revealed that she has just signed a twelve month contract with the soap and hopes to stay on the show long term.

“I’d love to stay on the show as long as they’ll have me,” she explained. “It’s not up to me. But I’d love to be Pat Butcher one day - minus the earrings!”