Maisie Smith and her boyfriend Max George are "more impulsive" since he underwent multiple heart surgeries

Maisie, 23, told the new issue of New! magazine: "It has just made us realise how important life is and how much we've just got to live in the moment - you never know what's around the corner.

"We're definitely more impulsive now and we know that anything is possible."

The couple met in 2020 whilst they both competed in that year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, and they went official in 2022.

Asked if Max's health problems have brought the pair closer, Maisie laughed: "It was pretty hard for us to get any closer to be honest - we've always been inseparable."

The Heart Vacancy hitmaker had a pacemaker fitted in December, but because one of the leads was placed "too far" into Max's heart, he underwent another pacemaker surgery operation in February - which Max, 36, previously said was a "success".

Asked how he is doing now, Maisie said: "Max is good - he's getting stronger every day.

"I'm so proud of how he's handled it too."

Maisie shot to fame as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders - a role she landed at six-years-old - and she left in 2021 to pursue other projects.

However, she has not ruled out a future return to Walford.

Maisie teased: "I always say with EastEnders, you never know.

"Never say never about me returning. I grew up there and it is my home, but right now I'm loving doing my theatre work."

The actress and Max recently worked together in Jeff Wayne's musical adaptation of The War of the Worlds, where they played married couple Parson Nathaniel and Beth.

And Maisie hinted that more theatre work is coming her way.

Asked what projects she is working on, she said: "I can't actually tell you what I'm working on right now - I'm not allowed.

"But I'm still loving doing theatre and that's my main focus."