She only joined EastEnders on the 1st January 2014, but it feels like Maddy Hill - who plays tomboy Nancy Carter - has been on our screens forever.

But, away from our televisions, there’s no denying that the soapstar is incredibly selfless.

From standing up for the rights of young girls with Plan UK, to joining an anti-terror rally in a bid to remind the world that #NigerianLivesMatter, Maddy Hill has proven time and time again that she wants to use her fame to help make a difference in the world.

And now, as the EastEnders star embarks upon Live Below The Line for Action Aid challenge, which will see her try to survive for just £1 a day, we have sat down for a chat with the incredibly down-to-earth actress.

First things first - what’s it like having Danny Dyer as an on-screen dad?

It's great having Danny as an on- screen Dad! We have such a similar sense of humour; it makes work really fun. We always add a comedy element to scenes where we can.

And what’s it like having Kellie Bright as a mum?

Kellie is the perfect on-screen mum. We're incredibly close, both on-screen and off. We go shopping together (in disguise!) and generally do much girlier stuff than Nancy and Linda would!

How have you found it working without Sam Strike? Do you miss him?

At first it was really difficult working without Sam, as we worked so closely together for a year. I was pretty quiet for a while. But everything changes so often and so much at EastEnders that you learn to accept change quite easily.

Now, let’s talk Live Below The Line for Action Aid; what made you decide to take on the challenge?

In the western world it’s easy to lose sight of how incredibly privileged we are. For some people in the world £1 is a lot of money and for me it’s all about getting a bit of perspective on this and supporting ActionAid’s work to fight poverty.

I’m taking on Live Below The Line to put myself in the shoes of the 1.2 billion people who are living on less than a £1. Focusing on something so domestic that we all take for granted such as eating is a powerful reminder of all those people who are struggling to survive.

How much are you spending weekly at the moment?

I spend quite a lot on food, it’s something I take real pleasure in. I eat out a few times a week which is a real luxury and I’m very grateful that I have the means to do that.

What do you think will be the hardest part of Living Below The Line?

How mundane it will be eating the same thing over and over again. I’m not looking forward to that at all!

Do you think it will be more difficult to work while you’re hungry?

Yes I do. I’m so used to having what I want during the days on set but I also think that generally we have a tendency to overeat. It will be interesting to see how I manage when that’s stripped back and food is just fuel rather than having the choice to pick at what I want.

What treats will you miss the most?

High protein foods – meats and peanut butter. It’s looking like it will be a lot of rice which is going to make things pretty dull.

What do you hope to learn from the challenge?

I hope to be made more aware of the role food plays in my day-to-day. I think it’ll be good for me to make some time to appreciate the choices I have, even with something a seemingly simple as food. It’s also an opportunity to work with ActionAid and raise some cash to support their extremely important work.

What will your daily food intake be on the challenge? Have you been given any cooking/food budgeting tips from it?

Yes I’ve planned my purchases already. My treats are going to be a banana for breakfast and I’m investing in some eggs. Beyond that it’ll be mainly chopped tomatoes, rice and porridge oats.

What is your favourite Live Below The Line for Action Aid recipe?

I’m concocting my own recipe with chopped tomatoes on a bed of rice with a fried egg on top. I’ll be sharing some pictures on my Instagram and Twitter.

How did friends and cast mates react when you told them about the challenge? Were they supportive?

They have been extremely supportive and made generous donations which I’m so appreciative of. Rakhee [who plays Shabnam] will be my best friend on set next week that’s for sure. She’s doing Live Below The Line too so she’ll be feeling my pain.

What are you hoping to achieve through your challenge?

I want to raise awareness and some money to support the work that ActionAid is doing around the world to support people living on very little.

Do you think we should all aim to spend less daily, regardless of our means?

Absolutely not! I think we need to be more aware of what we’re spending our money on. If we can afford to buy more ethically sourced food from places that are taking into consideration their worker’s rights then we should. It’s important that people invest in companies that are doing it right.

From 27th April - 1st May, Maddy Hill will be joining thousands of people from all across the world as they come together to unite against extreme poverty.

***Fancy taking part in the ****Live Below The Line for Action Aid challenge? You can sign up here. *