“Kierston Wareing, EastEnders’ Kirsty Branning from 2012–2014, later starred in Sky’s The Death of Bunny Munro alongside Matt Smith.”
It’s been 13 years since Kirsty Branning arrived in Walford, turning the Brannings’ Christmas Day upside down. From 2012 to 2014, actress Kierston Wareing played Kirsty in EastEnders, who was revealed as Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) secret wife on Christmas Day 2012.
In classic soap opera fashion, Kirsty stirred chaos in Walford as Max’s secrets and lies sparked clashes with Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), who tried to drive Kirsty out of the Square for good.
Yet Kirsty stayed long enough to fake a pregnancy, have an affair with Carl White (Daniel Coonan), and even attempt to reignite her relationship with Max.
Unsurprisingly, Kirsty’s attempts to rekindle her romance failed, and in January 2014, she departed the Square in Max’s car, leaving behind her wedding ring and signing the divorce papers, according to the Mirror.
Since leaving EastEnders, Kierston, now 49, landed a role in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks as drug dealer Ashley Davidson, who was eventually killed by serial killer Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin). She has also appeared in a number of other well-known dramas, including Strike, Scott & Bailey alongside Suranne Jones, and the Netflix hit Top Boy.
Her film credits include Punch (2023), I Love My Mum (2018), and Do Not Disturb (2016).
Most recently, the former soap star played Pamela Stocks in The Death of Bunny Munro. The Sky Original series, which debuted in November 2025, features Matt Smith as a sex-addicted salesman.
Sharing a preview of the show on her official Instagram, Kierston wrote: “Watch me get it on with Matt Smith. Starts 20th November 2025 on Sky. Directed by @isabellaeklof.”
Outside of acting, Kierston has a keen interest in vintage fashion and antiques, even running her own online business.
After leaving EastEnders, Kierston spoke to The Mirror, criticising her soap storyline as “ridiculous,” in which she was introduced as Max’s “shotgun” wife, Kirsty.
At the time, she voiced her frustration: “I didn’t believe in any of the storylines. I wanted more range. It wasn’t believable – why would Kirsty keep chasing Max when he’s got so much baggage? It was just ridiculous.”
She added: “By the end, she was a wet drip. When I joined the show, there were layers to her – ‘Is she nice? Is she not nice?’ I had all these ideas. I wanted it to be really gritty, but no one wanted to do anything like that.”
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