EVERYONE has to start somewhere – even soap stars.

We’ve found some photos of some fresh-faced EastEnders stars from deep within our archives.

They show Kellie Bright, David Witts, Jasmine Armfield and Maisie Smith as kids, before they shot to fame pounding the streets of Walford.

All of the actors come from south Essex and all appeared in the Echo at some point during their childhood.

Gazette:

A Bright future ahead - years before she began serving pints in the Queen Vic, a young Kelly Bright is pictured at the Southend Music Festival in Leigh in 1984. Aged eight, Kellie lived in Great Wakering at the time.

Gazette:

Driving Miss Maisie - Maisie Smith from Westcliff, is pictured here in 2011 when she was 10, donating £200 (her fee for switching on the Rochford Christmas lights) to help youngsters at Little Havens children’s hospice. Maisie would star as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders from 2008 to 2014. She is 18 now.

Gazette:

Gazette:

Before he shot to fame playing Joey Branning in EastEnders, David Witts was a pupil at Southend High School for Boys. He is pictured here in 2006 when he was 14 starring in a school adaption of the musical The Hired Man - his first ever leading role.

Gazette:

Gazette:

Talented - Pictured centre here at a school talent show in 2011 is Jasmine Armfield, known for playing Bex Fowler the daughter of Sonia Jackson and Martin Fowler on the soap. She was performing with pupils at the St John School in Thundersley.