Former EastEnders actress Nina Wadia has spoken candidly about her impressive physical transformation, attributing it to consistent exercise and improved nutrition while delivering a stark warning against trendy 'fat jab' injections.
No Quick Fixes: A Commitment to Healthy Living
The 57-year-old star, best known for her six-year stint as Zainab Masood on the BBC soap, insists that sustainable change is the only true path to wellness. "Quick fixes never work," she told The Sun, emphasising that her own journey has been a gradual process. Wadia, who also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, explained her routine revolves around walking, regular exercise, and a healthier diet.
"For me I have done it very, very slowly," she said. "I exercise. I walk. I eat healthier. I think it's better to do it that way." She credits this shift with giving her more energy and promoting overall well-being.
Promoting Wellness and Facing Career Challenges
Aligning with her health-focused message, Wadia is involved with the NHS-backed This Girl Can campaign, which encourages physical activity for older women. Her personal regimen now also includes drinking natural juices and incorporating more vegetarian meals.
Despite her glowing health and iconic status from shows like Goodness Gracious Me and EastEnders, where she became a fan favourite after arriving in Albert Square in 2007, Wadia revealed a sobering reality about her career. The mother-of-two admitted that acting roles have become "scarce" as she has grown older.
"It's hard being a mother and having this career because you do have to prioritise being a mother, that is the most important," she confessed. She described facing discrimination for choosing motherhood, with opportunities drying up as a result. "Throughout my career there has been moments of discrimination for being a mother... and they've been like okay, well maybe we won't see you for another couple of years. It's tough."
Leaving Walford Behind
Wadia also revisited her decision to leave EastEnders in 2013, after six years. She cited increasingly "ridiculous storylines" as a primary reason for her departure, specifically mentioning a planned affair for her on-screen husband, Masood.
"When the storylines get so ridiculous and so difficult, you kind of think 'I'm out,'" she told Vanessa Feltz on her Channel 5 show. "The reason I left was because the storylines were getting ridiculous. That was one of the reasons I left. There were several, but that was one of the main reasons."
Ultimately, Nina Wadia's story is one of embracing patient, healthy habits for physical change while navigating the complex pressures of motherhood and an unpredictable acting career in her later years.
