Former EastEnders star Maisie Smith has spoken about the 13-year age gap between her and boyfriend Max George.
The celebrity couple first met when they both competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, but they have revealed that romantic sparks only began to fly earlier this year.
In a new interview with Hello! magazine, Maisie, 21, said it was not until the dance competition's live arena tour in January this year that a close friendship started to form between them. She said: "When I'd speak to my mum, I'd always bring Max up, he was one of my closest friends, but there was never anything more."
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She said their friendship went from strength to strength thanks to a second Strictly tour, which kicked off in June, and they finally felt romantic sparks when a group of cast and crew went on a post-tour holiday to Portugal's Algarve.
Max, 34, said: "Towards the end of the holiday, I could feel I was looking at her differently. I thought 'What's happening here?' I was pretty nervous to see if it was reciprocated."
Reflecting on their first kiss, he added: "The moment I first kissed Mais, that was mental", to which she agreed there were instant "fireworks".
The couple also said that despite their age gap raising some questions, it does not bother them.
Maisie said she has never noticed the difference as she feels they are "so like-minded" while Max agreed that it never enters his mind, adding: "Mais has already done so many things that I'm in awe of - I look up to her."
The couple now appear smitten with one another, with Maisie saying: "When I get off a train, Max will be standing on the platform with a bouquet of flowers and I feel like I'm in a movie. It's every girl's dream and I've found it in Max."
Max added that he feels becoming her boyfriend is the "best thing I've ever done".
They revealed they plan to get a place together and have a base in London and potentially one in Manchester as well. Maisie added: "With my job I've had for the last 20-ish years, I haven't travelled very much, so it will be lovely to get to travel the world with my bestie."
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