Jaime Winstone says Dame Barbara Windsor sent her a signal from beyond the grave to take on the role of a young Peggy Mitchell.
The actress, who became friends with the star after she played her in the 2017 BBC biopic Babs, revealed she was apprehensive about playing her again in a flashback episode of EastEnders.
Jaime, 37, said: "When I was offered the part, I had such a deep connection with her, I thought, 'Is this something I should do, or do I risk getting typecast? Or would she want someone else to do it?'."
