EastEnders star Louisa Lytton’s life off screen from postponing wedding to ‘panic’ over kids

Louisa Lytton has become a long-serving cast member of EastEnders, but there’s a lot about her you probably didn’t know about her life away from the BBC soap. Louisa first played Ruby Allen as a teenager in 2005 but her character was axed the following year. In 2018, Ruby was written back into the show as a confident businesswoman who takes no prisoners.

Her character is best known for being at the centre of a sexual consent storyline, and was nominated for two Digital Spy Reader Awards for her part in a story that was praised by viewers and critics alike.

Louisa tied the knot with husband long-term partner Ben Bhanvr in .July 2022. They were first set to marry in August 2020 but have postponed their big day three times due to the pandemic. Speaking to OK! after postponing her wedding for the first time, Louisa explained that it had been an emotional experience.

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““It was emotional making the decision to postpone it because you put all this work and effort into something, build it all up in your head, and then suddenly it’s not happening for ages,” she said.

Louisa and Ben said "I do" in Siena in Tuscany in front of 90 guests. The couple, who exclusively invited OK!, said that the ceremony was "magical” and that they were “relieved” they made it to the altar, after waiting so long. "The whole day was magical and so full of love. I’ve married my best friend and couldn’t be happier.” Louisa said: “I just felt relieved,” says the EastEnders actress of finally being wed. “I felt like we had finally done it. It’s the same for any Covid bride. And I think we’re just so relieved. I remember us giggling at the altar, just thinking about how long it took to get us here.” Ben added: “Yeah, we couldn’t stop giggling with tears in our eyes.”

The couple were also joined by some of Louisa's EastEnders co-stars and celebrity friends, including Lacey Turner, James Bye and Zaraah Abrahams.

Appearing on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Louisa chatted about her previous relationships, which weren't always successful, and how she would have 'found a way' to make sure she had a baby as she felt it was her calling in life. She said: "I was with someone for off and on for about six years. It was not a great relationship.

"I don't think I ever really had the thought whilst being with him of having children. I knew I wanted kids, which is quite telling, isn't it? If I knew I wanted kids, but probably didn't really want them with him, I don't know why held on for so long, but we do what we do.

"And then after him actually was when I went into panic mode... I remember panicking then thinking, what now happens. And you know what, there was a part of me that I would have just, I would have found a way to have a child on my own. Because having the child for me was like the ultimate in life. That's not for everyone, but it just always was with me."

Louisa's dream came true in August 2021, when she gave birth to Aura Olivia Bhanvra, introducing her bundle of joy exclusively with OK!. Sporting a full head of dark hair, she instantly stole her parents’ hearts, with Louisa describing it as the “best moment of my entire life”. But Aura's arrival wasn't all smooth-sailing as Louisa endured a three-day labour before doctors decided an emergency c-section was the safest option.

Louisa told OK!: "The birth wasn’t what I planned. I really wanted a water birth and we did a hypnobirthing course, but at the same time I wasn’t married to the idea because I know sometimes it doesn’t go to plan, so I was open to whatever was safest." The star went into labour before her due date and adds that she "laboured at home for 14 hours before going in" to hospital, where here waters had to be broken.

"I called the hospital and they said once your contractions are between a certain time to come in," she continues. "But once I went in it just went on for too long with nothing happening so they had to do a section, but she was fine and that’s all that mattered."

The family of three live in a bright and chic home after moving into the property four years ago. Louisa and Ben had previously lived in a small flat, but made the most of all the new space and transformed it into an open and modern oasis. Sharing a snap ahead of their move, the EastEnders actress wrote: “Still unpacking i honestly don’t know how all of that stuff fit in our little flat."

The Ruby Allen star said: “I feel so overwhelmed (in a good way) my flat was my baby, it looked after us during lock down, it allowed me and the girls (@alexlouizebird @mariannaneo )to fall in drunk after nights out, have nights in with 3BlindMice (@cartierfraseriheacho @mafromusic) it even had a space in the bed for @natashastonemua for a whole month whilst she held my hand and supplied lots of wine through a break up.

“It was mine and @bennnyy__ first home. Goodbye wedding (for now) Hello house. Shall i update you on the progress or are we bored of home accounts?!”