Kym Marsh doesn’t think Maisie Smith will "get away with it lightly" after she was spotted smoking a rolled-up cigarette while driving.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star says the ‘EastEnders’ actress – who plays Tiffany Butcher in the BBC One soap – has done a "really silly thing", after the 19-year-old star was pictured smoking a "strong smelling" cigarette earlier this month while behind the wheel.
Kym said: "This was a really silly thing to do. We all make mistakes and do things wrong, and hopefully this is something Maisie will learn from as she’s only 19."
The ex-cobbles star – who played Michelle Connor from 2006 to 2019 – insisted soap stars have to "set an example" to others when they are in a serial drama.
Writing in her OK! magazine column, Kym added: "When you’re in a soap, you have to remember that you have an influence on others – especially younger people – and you have to set an example.
"You are an ambassador for your show, so you have to make sure you uphold its values. I can’t imagine she will get away with it lightly."
The 44-year-old star’s comments come just a week after she insisted it "wouldn’t make sense" for ‘Coronation Street’ stars to dress up to go to work – after Sherrie Hewson claimed the current cast don’t make the same effort on set as her own generation.
Kym said: "Nowadays, a lot of the actors turn up in comfy clothes.
"I agree. Things have changed, but I think the stars of the soaps have changed with the times.
"We are often expected on set at 7am and have to go through hair, make-up and wardrobe.
"It wouldn’t make sense for us to be glammed up because we’d have to get that all stripped off."
Sherrie – who played Maureen Webster on the ITV soap from 1993 to 1997 – had said the actors used to have a "tradition of glamour" when it came to dressing up for work, and she suggested there are different standards held today.