How I lost two stone by dancing in High School Musical, by ex-EastEnder Letitia Dean

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The 40-year-old actress started to lose the pounds after starring on BBC talent show Strictly Come Dancing last year.

And as she returns to the stage in the live production of High School Musical, Letitia is looking better than ever after totally transforming her lifestyle.

Cutting a fine figure: A heavier Letitia before (left) and slimmed down at the High School Musical premiere last week (right)

The actress now watches what she eats and keeps in shape through a combination of dance and other exercises.

Her new figure hasn't only resulted in Letitia living a healthier lifestyle; it has also attracted a toyboy lover.

Following her split from husband Jason Pethers in 2006, Letitia is now dating 23-year-old model and dancer Bowen Perrin after meeting on the set of the Ipswich panto production Cinderella last Christmas.

She tells this week's Close magazine: 'I feel so much sexier now with my new, streamlined body.

Curtain call: Letitia Dean (Ms Darius) and Norman Bowman (Coach Bolton) on stage at the premiere of High School Musical last week

The way she was: Letitia as Sharon Watts in her heftier EastEnders heyday

'I've still got curves though.'

Letitia insists she didn't resort to drastic measures or extreme diets to lose the pounds.

She explained: 'I went from a size 14 to size 10 and I've never looked back. I started going to the gym for the first time last year and now I've grown to love it - running and boxercise are now my favourite things.

'I lost weight the good old-fashioned way, through dancing and exercise - I didn't starve myself or resort to some crazy fad diet.'

Despite losing a lot of weight while competing in Strictly Come Dancing, Letitia admits she has been getting even fitter now she is starring alongside teenagers and twentysomethings in High School Musical.

She said: 'I'm trying to keep up with all these fabulous young dancers. It's a high-energy show so that works the old ticker.'