'It got that demon off my shoulder': Maisie Smith credits Celebrity SAS with helping her conquer her years of self-doubt

She has spent her life on screen, making her debut in EastEnders at the age of seven.

But Maisie Smith has revealed it's only recently that she has started to feel confident in her career and her abilities, thanks to her latest TV show Celebrity SAS.

The actress has been put through her paces in a series of tough challenges on the Channel 4 show, but has admitted the experience has changed her mindset. 

'Growing up in the limelight, it does put certain pressures on you,' Maisie told The Mirror. 'In everything I do I'm quite conscious of myself in many ways, I think.

'Even for my job, for acting, singing, dancing, I've always questioned if I've got what it takes. I think it is a bit of imposter syndrome.'

After getting the call for Celebrity SAS the actress confessed she felt the familiar feelings of doubt creeping in. "When I do a show like this, that was my first thought, am I good enough? Can I do this?"' she explained.

Weeks of being shouted at by former special forces soldiers and the immense physical and mental challenges caused a internal shift though.

'It changed my outlook about myself. It was honestly the best thing I've ever done. It got that demon off my shoulder. I went in there with everything I had and I came out feeling like I could literally conquer the world,' gushed Maisie.

On Sunday's episode of Celebrity SAS, the actress told of her motivation for signing up for the gruelling challenge and detailed her speech issues, explaining: 'I've struggled sort of speaking.

'I've had, not a stutter but I just could go blank, and words wouldn't come out and I think the more that happened, the more people would just sort of talk over me', she said. 

Maisie went on to say how it affected her, admitting that she felt 'useless and pointless' every time she tried to speak.

She added: 'I found it pretty hard, and I just hated the person I was for a long time

'The reason I worked so hard and pushed myself was because the one thing I can't control is the thing I'm most scared of.

'And being scared of talking... it's horrible. I'd love to overcome these feelings of fear. I want to be this strong person that I try to be.'

Next up for Maisie is a starring role in a reimaging of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom in a nation-wide tour opposite her Strictly pal Kevin Clifton. 

Elsewhere, things appear to be going swimmingly in her personal life too, with Maisie currently loved up with fellow Strictly alumni Max George.

The beauty has been littering her social media with loved-up snaps with the hunk, with their relationship coming shortly after his split from ex Stacey Giggs. 

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Channel 4, Sundays at 9pm.