No wonder she's smiling! Kara Tointon beams as she saunters through Birmingham... after her cheeky nude scene in The Halcyon drew rave reviews
Kara Tointon has good reason to smile after her bum-baring performance in ITV's new hit drama The Halcyon garnered widespread praise.
And the actress, 33, couldn't have looked happier as she took a break between performances of her theatre show Gaslight at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre on Tuesday.
The former EastEnders star produced a beaming grin as she sauntered in a smart black trench coat over a polo neck knit.
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Feeling good: Kara Tointon, 33, couldn't have looked happier as she took a break between performances of her theatre show Gaslight at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre on Tuesday
She wore a skinny pair of dark jeans and black boots, while she held her brunette tresses back with a black and white headband.
The pretty actress wore minimal makeup as she dragged her luggage behind her and was joined by her co-star Rupert Young.
Her Strictly triumph in 2010 no doubt gave her a good grounding in how to play the role of a showgirl.
Coordinated: The former EastEnders star sauntered in a smart black trench coat over a polo neck knit
Walk this way: The pretty actress wore minimal makeup as she dragged her luggage behind her and was joined by her co-star Rupert Young
But Kara journeyed into uncharted territory when she bared all for her cheeky nude scene.
The star admitted that the derrière that appeared on screen was all her, telling The Sun: 'I don’t know if I should admit it but it was me — unless they re-filmed it and I don’t know about it.
'I was nervous, as everyone else was fully clothed, but the wardrobe department made sure I was comfortable.'
Naked ambition: Kara broke new ground when she starred in ITV's critically-acclaimed new drama The Halcyon, baring all for a cheeky nude scene
Wowing audiences: The former Strictly Come Dancing champ cuts a stunning figure in her role of Betsey Day - a voluptuous nightclub singer with a volatile sex life
She won rave reviews for her scantily clad portrayal of showgirl Betsey in the debut episode of the ITV period drama.
Christopher Stevens for The Daily Mail reviewed the show, calling it: 'The ITV drama is Forties intrigue and romance – a love story in the tradition of Casablanca, a wartime adventure in the style of Dame Barbara Cartland.
'The former Strictly Come Dancing champ cuts a stunning figure in her role of Betsey Day - a voluptuous nightclub singer with a volatile sex life.'
Blown away! Kara looked sartorially savvy as she battled the elements while leaving the BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester on Tuesday morning
Kara sent temperatures soaring as she stripped down to enjoy a bath in her boss' swanky bathroom on the debut episode.
Her character is not too far removed, in fact, from the actress’s best known role until now – as the ‘tart with a heart’, barmaid Dawn Swann in EastEnders.
During her four years on the show, Dawn was abducted while pregnant with her married lover's baby, survived a gas explosion and had her gangster fiancé murdered on their wedding day.
And it seems like the successful soap series is still on Kara's mind as she revealed on Lorraine in December that she hasn't ruled out a return and would 'never say never' to going back to the Square.
'I never got killed off!' she exclaimed. 'I’d never say never to anything. I’m lucky I’ve got to the point where I can do a bit of theatre and film and different things.'
Having a wash: Kara sent temperatures soaring as she stripped down to enjoy a bath in her boss' swanky bathroom on the debut episode on Monday
Kara was most recently seen leaving the BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester on Tuesday morning, covered up to ensure her warmth as she battled the elements.
The actress looked utterly windswept as she showed off her slim frame in a pair of skinny jeans and jumper while rolling along her suitcase.
Opting for a chic monochrome ensemble, the Essex native showed off her lean legs in the ankle-grazing jeans.
She skimmed her enviable frame with a thin-knit jumper and added a long black coat for extra warmth as she strutted along in heeled ankle boots.
Her chocolate brunette tresses blew furiously in the wind as she kept her head down while making her way indoors.
Period piece: The ITV drama is Forties intrigue and romance – a love story in the tradition of Casablanca, a wartime adventure in the style of Dame Barbara Cartland
Heading back to the Square? Kara recently revealed that she hasn't ruled out a return and would 'never say never' to going back to Eastenders (pictured on 2006)
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