EastEnders icon Lacey Turner’s younger sister led the birthday tributes to the Stacey Slater actress with a heartfelt Instagram post.

Lacey has been a major part of the long-running BBC soap since making her Albert Square debut all the way back in 2004, going on to become a firm fan favourite.

Appearing in nearly 2,000 EastEnders episodes over the past two decades, Lacey has won four National Television Awards and six British Soap Awards for her performance.

Turning 37 on Friday (March 3), Lacey shared some of the birthday messages she’s received on her Instagram story for her 623,000 followers to see.

Among those sending their well-wishes was Lacey’s sister Lily Ruby Turner, a 23-year-old actress, who also goes by the name Lily Harvey, her and Lacey’s mother’s maiden name.

The London native, who is also the sister of Holloaks actress Daisy Turner, appeared on EastEnders in the role of Shenice Quinn between 2011 and 2012.

Despite the sisters being on the programme at the same time, Lacey and Lily never shared a single scene together during the year they were both in the cast.

Sharing a wholesome collage of her and Lacey, Lilly wrote: “To my beautiful sister happy birthday. I really don’t know what I would do without you. You’re so special and one of the most amazing people I know, I love you so much.”

Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater in EastEnders(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

Another post came from Lacey’s long-term friend and fellow actor Tom Myers, known for his work in The Zombie Diaries 2 and 2010 UK mystery-thriller film Psychosis.

“Happy birthday to this amazing, talented women @laceyturner. Have the best day mate,” he wrote alongside an image of them on holiday together last year in Ibiza.

Lacey shares three children with her husband Matt Kay, who she married in 2017, five-year-old daughter Dusty, four-year-old son Trilby and newborn daughter Gipsy Olive.

An image from the family’s Instagram page, @thekayoskids, simply said to honour Lacey: “Happy birthday Mama.”

Lacey is currently missing from EastEnders, with Stacey departing Walford earlier in the month following the tragic death of beloved character Martin Fowler.

Stacey had been struggling with grief and guilt after her ex-husband Martin died in the Queen Vic explosion last month, just moments after he confessed his love to her.

With Stacey not sure how to handle the preparation of Martin’s funeral, she said goodbye to her mum Jean and daugther Lilly as she left in a taxi to visit her brother Sean Slater earlier in the month.

It’s believed these scenes were filmed prior to Lacey going on maternity leave, with little Gipsy Olive only born in January of this year.

Despite having only given birth the month prior, Lacey returned to work for the 40th anniversary live episode on Thursday, February 20, where Martin died in her arms.