EastEnders star Lacey Turner is best known to many of us for playing fiery mum Stacey Slater in the long running BBC soap, with millions of viewers tuning in each and every week to catch up on her latest storylines.
However, one aspect of Lacey’s own life that viewers may not have been aware of, is that the star is a big fan of tattoos and has several stunning inkings on her body.
As one of many soap stars whose tattoos remain mainly hidden on screen, many fans may not have realised how many permanent additions the actress has to her skin – or the poignant meanings behind them.
But fear not soap fans, as OK! has you covered with a quick run down of Lacey’s most memorable tattoo designs and the meanings behind them.
Elephant
One of Stacey's most famous tattoos, is a large elephant inked onto her back. The actress, who shares daughter Dusty and son Trilby with husband Matt Kay, previously opened up to OK! about her elephant tattoo, saying: "I'd always wanted an elephant, as I love them.
"I'd been thinking about it for about 18 months. You can see my back in my wedding dress and it felt like there was a gap on my back so I wanted to fill it."
Lacey unveiled her Elephant tattoo back in 2017, taking to Instagram to share snaps during the inking process as well as the finished artwork.
The pretty animal is generally associated with good luck, and it can also symbolise strength, power and dignity.
Two birds
Another of Lacey's stylish tattoos features two birds that sit inwards on her shoulders and look like swallows.
Generally, birds symbolise freedom and hope but historically the meaning behind two swallows date back to British sailors, who used the tattoos to show off their sailing experience.
Nowadays they symbolise loyalty and love – two virtues Lacey holds close to her heart.
Hamsa Hand
Another of Lacey's intricate tattoos, is a Hamsa hand, with the soap star first sharing a glimpse of it on social media back in 2011.
The Hamsa hand, also known as the Hand of God or Hand of Fatima, is widely found on jewellery and artefacts from the Middle East and historically is meant to ward off the "evil eye."
For that reason, the Hamsa hand carries a deep spiritual meaning, with several cultures believing it is a force of protection.
It is also widely believed to bring its owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.
Quote
As well as her visually striking tattoos, Lacey also has a far more subtle piece of script immortalised beneath her elephant tattoo which reads: "Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
Although widely attributed to various poets over the years, including New England poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau and American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, the quote actually hails from social worker, author and speaker, J. Richard Lessor according to the Walden Woods Project.
The quote typically means that with patience happiness will find you.
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