Shana Swash made her small screen debut in BBC’s EastEnders as Demi Miller when she was just 13-years-old, alongside her older brother Joe Swash, who starred as her on-screen sibling Mickey.
Nowadays, the star runs a pop-up coffee shop business, Swash and Jones, with her fiancé Nick Jones, which she launched during lockdown when social distancing regulations shut down various filming projects in the industry.
Shana, 33, got back to her acting roots when Covid restrictions eased, taking on a critically acclaimed role in film Love Without Walls, but managed to keep the business running as a second job, despite facing challenges juggling the two.
The former soap star shared in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk: “It’s difficult, but I did Love Without Walls right before I opened Swash and Jones. So, at the moment, things are happening at really nice times where they fall into place with each other.
“I work for myself, so I can come and go as I please, and that’s the glory of it. So if something does come up, I can shut up or get somebody in, and I can go and do some work.
“My social life has gone from zero to 100 all of a sudden, it’s so lovely to be able to have the time to go and spend with friends and family.
“But yeah, that’s what I always say I’m thankful for – working for myself – is the time.”
Opening up about her passion for her side job, she explained: “That came out of Covid and lockdown, and not having a job, and needing something.
“It was a real change-up, because I was doing something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“So I always say I was kind of thankful for Covid in a weird way for getting me up and out and doing it.
“I have a lovely trailer and we sell coffee and lovely sandwiches in the park I grew up in, so at the moment I’m loving working for myself, really enjoying it.”
Alongside her busy career, Shana became a mum for the first time last December, welcoming a daughter named Kitty Frances Swash Jones with her fiancé.
