MARTINE McCutcheon has wowed fans over the last few years with her incredible 5st weight loss transformation.
The former EastEnders actress, 48, has shared her fitness journey with her social media fans, which saw her drop three dress sizes.
Yesterday, Martine announced that her 12 year marriage to musician Jack McManus had ended – and it was his decision.
The TV star has often shared an insight into her stunning home and her family life with their son Rafferty.
She also regularly dazzles fans with her glam photos – from bikini snaps of her toned figure and photos in skintight outfits.
The Love Actually star previously revealed how she had transformed her figure and confessed that she was a fan of the Cambridge Weight Plan diet.
She said: “I’ve spent so long fighting to feel healthy again, I didn’t want to do anything too drastic that was going to make me feel lousy.
“But after having Rafferty I found it so tough to lose my baby weight and that does start to affect your self-esteem.”
The Perfect Moment singer, who gave birth to son Rafferty in 2015, added: “My loss was a tiny bit slower than the average person but to be honest I expected that as many diets/food plans didn’t work for me at all as the lymes disease and me can really play havoc with how your system works.”
Martine was diagnosed with ME, otherwise known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, in 2011 and later revealed she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
She also suffers from Fibromyalgia, which causes pain all over the body.
Opening up about living with the conditions, Martine told HELLO!: “I look at it that when I get symptoms or when my body starts clanging, it’s a sign for me to pace myself, rest.
“And I think it gives me that when somebody else would just logically think, ‘Oh, I need to just take a rest’, mentally, I don’t do that, so my body does it for me.
“So, yeah, I’ve definitely learned to look at it as a good messenger rather than something that simply gets in the way.”
She was signed by the prestigious Elite, one of the world’s leading model management companies.
Despite her health battles, Martine has found ways to manage her health, which has given her the energy to chase both her dreams.
“I think it takes a long time to work out what your own recipe is,” she told Love Sunday magazine.
“It’s taken me such a long time to look through all the stuff that’s out there and just do what works for me.
“So it’s not as simple as just going on a crazy diet. I just feel like it’s really important to encourage women to just be the best version of themselves.”
Martine said she doesn’t follow a particular diet to stay healthy, but has a “simple trick” to stay in shape as she revealed: “The 80/20 rule is what works for me.”
“For 80 per cent of my week, I will have mainly just healthy proteins, vegetables and fruit, organic and veggie juices and Flora ProActiv spread.
“And then I’ll have treats 20 per cent of the time – I’ll have that slice of pizza, chocolate or a G&T to celebrate a friend’s birthday.”
Martine shot to fame playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders, before playing the iconic role of the Prime Minister’s tea lady Natalie in Love Actually in 2002.
She also enjoyed chart success with her 1999 hit This Is My Moment. The TV darling has built a huge fanbase thanks to her varied career and relatable attitude, and has an impressive Instagram followers – many of whom closely follow her interiors.
The star revealed she their marriage was over in a lengthy statement on Thursday.
In an Instagram Story post today, Martine said her singer-songwriter partner had decided it is best for them to go their separate ways after 18 years and she has accepted his decision.
Martine said their number one priority will continue to be the “happiness and welfare” of their nine-year-old son, Rafferty, and they “look forward to being parents together” for the rest of their lives.
In the post, she wrote: “After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision.
“We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, nine-year-old son Rafferty, whose happiness and welfare has always been, and will continue to be, our number one priority.
“We both of course still cherish and look forward to being parents together to our wonderful boy for the rest of our lives.”
She continued: “Our love for Rafferty is something that will never waver or change and we obviously want to protect him and help him feel as safe and secure as possible.”
She said the decision to split has evolved over time and they are still “finding our new way forward as a family”, and asked for privacy at this “difficult time”.
Martine sent Jack “all the love, luck and happiness for the next chapter of his life” and said she will be “rooting” for him alongside their son.
The couple married at Lake Como in Italy in 2012.
