Lacey Turner has spent much of her life in the public eye, becoming one of the best-known faces on British television through her long-running role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders.
Away from Albert Square, however, the actress has built a very different kind of life. Lacey is married to Matt Kay, her childhood sweetheart, and together they have created a busy family life away from the cameras.
Matt does not work in television or entertainment. Instead, he runs a barber shop in London. The couple have been together since they were teenagers, making their relationship one of the more enduring romances connected to the soap world.
They married in Ibiza in September 2017 and later became parents to two daughters. In September 2024, they announced that another baby was on the way, giving the family another reason to celebrate.
Who Is Lacey Turner’s Husband?
Matt Kay is Lacey Turner’s husband. Unlike his famous wife, Matt has largely stayed outside the entertainment industry.
He is a barber and owns a London-based barber shop called Overgrown.
Matt is from London, and his career has allowed him to maintain a more private life while Lacey continues to work as a successful actress.
The couple’s relationship dates back to their teenage years. They were childhood sweethearts, and their romance eventually grew into marriage and family life.
Although Lacey has spent years appearing on television, Matt has generally avoided becoming a celebrity in his own right. His role has instead been focused on his business and family.
Lacey Turner and Matt Kay Were Childhood Sweethearts
One of the sweetest parts of Lacey and Matt’s relationship is how far back their story goes.
The pair met when they were teenagers and began dating when they were young.
Their relationship survived the changes that came with growing older and Lacey’s increasingly demanding acting career.
For Lacey, becoming a successful actress meant long filming days and a schedule that could be difficult to balance with a normal family routine. Matt remained a constant presence in her life.
After years together, they eventually decided to take the next step and get married.
Their long history as a couple has remained an important part of their family story.
When Did Lacey Turner and Matt Kay Get Married?
Lacey Turner and Matt Kay married in September 2017.
The couple chose Ibiza as the setting for their wedding, creating a memorable destination celebration with family and friends.
Lacey looked stunning on her wedding day in a Bourhan Basma wedding dress.
Several of her EastEnders co-stars were also present, including the late Barbara Windsor, James Bye and Jake Wood.
Speaking about the wedding afterwards, Lacey described the day as amazing and said they felt an incredible amount of love.
For the actress, the wedding was particularly special because she was marrying someone she had known for many years.
Rather than being a relationship that developed after she became famous, Lacey and Matt had already shared a long history before their wedding day.
Matt Kay’s Career as a Barber
While Lacey is recognised across Britain for her acting career, Matt has built his own business in the grooming industry.
He owns Overgrown, a barber shop based in London.
His work is quite separate from the entertainment world, which gives the couple a balance between their professional lives.
Lacey’s job often involves filming, publicity and appearances, while Matt’s career is centred around running his own business.
That difference may also help explain why Matt has maintained a relatively low public profile despite being married to one of the UK’s best-known soap actresses.
He has occasionally appeared in family posts and photographs, but much of his life remains away from television cameras.
Lacey Turner and Matt Kay’s First Child
Lacey and Matt welcomed their first child, Dusty, on July 12, 2019.
The birth was especially emotional for the couple because Lacey had previously experienced miscarriages.
Before Dusty’s arrival, the actress had spoken openly about how much becoming a mother meant to her.
The couple had hoped to start a family for some time, and Dusty’s birth was therefore a deeply meaningful moment.
Lacey has since spoken warmly about motherhood and her relationship with her daughter.
Matt has also taken an active role in family life, particularly when Lacey is busy filming EastEnders.
Matt Is a Hands-On Dad
Lacey has previously praised Matt for being an involved father.
When she has been working on EastEnders, Matt has looked after the children at home.
The actress has spoken about how much Dusty adores her father and how well the two of them get along.
That arrangement has allowed Lacey to continue working while knowing that her children are being cared for by someone they know and trust.
For a working mother with a demanding filming schedule, having that kind of support can make a major difference.
Matt’s involvement also means that parenting is something the couple have shared rather than leaving entirely to Lacey while she manages her acting career.
The Couple Welcomed Trilby
In September 2020, Lacey and Matt announced that they were expecting their second child.
The pregnancy was described as another “miracle” for the family following the difficulties they had experienced previously.
Their second daughter, Trilby Fox Kay, was born on February 3, 2021.
The arrival of Trilby meant the couple were now parents to two young children.
Lacey has spoken about how much she enjoys being a mother, and the family has shared occasional glimpses of their life together.
The sisters have also been featured on a family Instagram account managed by their father.
Lacey Wanted a Big Family
Even after becoming a mother of two, Lacey made it clear that she could imagine having more children.
She previously said she felt lucky to have the two children they had but would potentially like to expand their family further.
At the time, she also acknowledged that raising two young children meant they already had plenty on their hands.
That changed in 2024 when the couple announced that they were expecting another baby.
Lacey Turner Announces Her Third Pregnancy
In September 2024, Lacey and Matt shared the news that another child was on the way.
The family marked the announcement with a series of photographs taken on a beach. They were pictured together holding a baby scan, making the news especially personal and memorable.
Lacey shared the announcement with a heartfelt message expressing how lucky the family felt.
The news was met with congratulations from friends, fans and her EastEnders co-stars.
Jacqueline Jossa was among those who congratulated the family, describing the announcement as special.
The pregnancy meant that Lacey and Matt were preparing to become parents for the third time.
Lacey Turner’s Family Life Away From EastEnders
Although Lacey has spent years playing one of EastEnders‘ most recognisable characters, she has always maintained a strong connection to family life.
Her relationship with Matt has remained separate from the drama of the soap.
The couple have built their family around their children and Matt’s business in London, while Lacey continues her acting career.
Having met as teenagers, their relationship has now developed through several major stages of life.
They went from young sweethearts to a married couple and then parents, all while Lacey’s television career continued to grow.
Who Are Lacey Turner’s Children?
Lacey Turner and Matt Kay have three children according to their 2024 pregnancy announcement and subsequent family updates.
Their first daughter, Dusty, was born on July 12, 2019.
Their second daughter, Trilby Fox Kay, arrived on February 3, 2021.
The couple announced their third pregnancy in September 2024, sharing a family photograph and baby scan.
The family has generally kept much of their children’s private lives away from the spotlight, although Lacey and Matt have occasionally shared family moments publicly.
A Long-Lasting Love Story
Lacey Turner and Matt Kay’s relationship is notable because it began long before fame, marriage and children.
They met as teenagers and remained together through Lacey’s rise to television fame. Their 2017 Ibiza wedding was another major milestone, followed by the arrival of their daughters.
Matt’s career as a barber gives him a professional life away from the entertainment industry, but he has still played an important role in supporting Lacey and their children.
For fans searching for Lacey Turner’s husband, Matt Kay is the man she married after years as childhood sweethearts. Their story has grown from a teenage romance into a marriage and a busy family life, with Lacey continuing her successful EastEnders career while Matt runs his London barber business.
Away from Albert Square, that quieter family life appears to be where Lacey finds much of her happiness.