Natalie Cassidy takes the plunge in daring black bodice and tiny pink tulip skirt

Former EastEnder Natalie Cassidy is not known for being a glamourpuss.

So it came as something of a surprise when she stepped out in a daring strapless black bodice top and tiny pink tulip skirt.

It seems her hardline training regime for Strictly Come Dancing may have already given her body confidence a massive boost.

Looking good: Former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy heads to a wedding

The 26-year-old teamed her minuscule outfit with towering heels which matched the colour of her skirt.

Her accessories were kept to a minimum - simple diamond studs in her ears and a slim gold watch on her left wrist.

She also opted for a simple down 'do with her hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders.

Natalie was on her way to a wedding with boyfriend Adam Cottrell, 29, who was dressed more plainly in a grey suit and carrying what looked like an overnight bag.

It seems that the fitness regime of Strictly Come Dancing is doing Natalie the world of good.

She has been looking fresh-faced and slimmer than usual in recent weeks as she trains for the show, which starts on Friday, September 18.

However, she has also had to contend with rumours of a Strictly romance with dancer Vincent Simone, her partner on the show.

The pair were spotted in what appeared to be an intimate embrace in the street during a break from rehearsals.

But Natalie, who made her name playing Sonia Jackson in EastEnders, has downplayed any suggestion of a new relationship.

Loved up: Natalie strolls down the street with boyfriend Adam Cottrell

The actress has probably become more famous for her yo-yo dieting than her roles.

In 2007, she showed off a spectacularly slimline figure, plunging from a size 14 to a size 8 and losing four stone in less than six months.

Natalie launched a fitness DVD on the back of her weight loss which became one of the fastest-selling fitness DVDs ever.

However, she soon piled on the pounds and admitted she had been deeply unhappy while thin.

'I’ve had a lot of issues with my body over the years,’ she said last month.

‘I’ve struggled with my weight and I’ve struggled with diets – I’ve tried every one in the book, from the cabbage soup diet to Atkins and even one where I could only eat one mushroom every four hours.

'None of them ever worked and none of them ever made me feel any better about myself.’

She said meeting Adam earlier this year had given her a huge confidence boost and it was this that led her to go on Strictly.

'I just want to learn to dance. If I happen to lose some weight at the same time then that will be a good thing but it’s not why I’m on the show,' she said.

'Neither is it for the money or to raise my profile.'

Gizza kiss: Vincent Simone and Natalie Cassidy are caught in what looks like a compromising position after practice

Natalie Cassidy unveils her buxom figure as she frolicks in the surf

It's been a traumatic year for Natalie Cassidy, with the death of her 'second mum' Wendy Richards and the break-up of her engagement.

But for once the 26-year-old had a genuine smile on her face as she frolicked in the Spanish surf yesterday.

It may have had something to do with her companion - Natalie was pictured with a new man by her side.

New romance: Natalie Cassidy and her new boyfriend Adam relax in the Spanish surf yesterday

Her mystery lover, known simply as Adam, seemed very taken with buxom Natalie.

He and the former EastEnders actress laughed and smiled as they splashed each other in the waves, before he pulled her close for a lingering kiss.

They then walked along the beach arm-in-arm, oblivious to the other sun-seekers.

Getting stuck in: The couple embrace in the waves

Natalie called off her wedding to actor Ben Porter 40, in March.

The couple had dated for 18 months and been engaged for six months when she decided she was too young to settle down.

But it appears that she has already moved on, with her villa holiday in Spain.

Look into my eyes: Natalie seems loved up with her new man

Yesterday Natalie showed off her fuller figure in a black one-piece bathing suit.

The yo-yo dieter, who is back up to a size 14, has recruited Coleen Rooney's former trainer Elise Lindsay in an effort to lose weight again.

She initially lost two and a half stone for her fitness DVD Then And Now in 2007, but piled on the pounds and returned to her original weight last year.

Take my hand: 'Adam' admires his girlfriend's abundant curves

Hand-in-hand: Natalie ended her engagement to actor Ben Porter in March

Natalie Cassidy loses battle to stay slim as she piles back on the pounds

Despite the weight loss DVD and her former strict dieting regime it seems ex-EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has lost her battle to keep the pounds off.

After dropping a staggering four stone she vowed she would never again return to her former size-16 frame.

But the actress, whose workout DVD Now & Then became a bestseller last year, is now said to have piled on 3st in recent months.

Larger than life Natalie Cassidy shows of her fuller figure yesterday

During an outing yesterday she held her black bag protectively over her waist as she was snapped by photographers.

Wearing a grey three-quarter-length top and tracksuit bottoms, the 25-year-old looked worlds away from her former svelte figure earlier this year.

Her personal trainer Dee Thresser - who helped her reach her weight goal of 8st - has recently revealed she is disappointed the actress has piled the weight back on.

Natalie shows of her slimmer figure in February in a stunning black dress

She said: 'I'm really disappointed that Natalie has put the weight back on.

'We worked really hard to get her to change her routine and bad habits and became really close friends.

Natalie shows off her 8st frame for her DVD Now & Then, a bestseller last year

'I haven't heard from her since she took me on holiday with her in March - she was so determined to keep up the routine and to keep her fab new shape.'

Natalie, who is 5ft 4in, previously admitted her slim frame requires daily two-hour work-out sessions which she said could be a 'nightmare'.

Natalie Cassidy admits: 'I have to work out for two hours a day to keep my Size 8 figure

Former EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy has admitted that keeping her newly trim physique is proving to be nightmare - and she has to work out for two hours daily to keep her Size 8 figure.

The 24 year-old lost 4 stone last year after dropping from a size 12 to an 8 in eight months.

She told Closer magazine: "Maintaining the weight is the toughest bit.

In shape: Former EastEnder Natalie Cassidy is in great shape after dropping four dress sizes - but she revealed staying slim is a nightmare

It's bloody hard work. I'm in the gym every day at 7am doing spinning classes or with my personal trainer, Dee Thresher, who did the work-out DVD with me.

"It can be a nightmare - I'm there for up to two hours a day."

Beach babe: Despite having her own best-selling fitness DVD, Natalie said that maintaining the weight was the hardest part

Like many women Miss Cassidy admitted to having tried lots of diets, but once she had achieved her target weight, would pile the pounds back on by returning to her previous bad habits.

Miss Cassidy who is 5ft 4 and weighs 8 stone 1 lb - down from 12 stone - has also been forced to radically alter her eating habits.

She said: "It's all about moderation, but I do love a glass of white wine.

"If I go out and drink a lot one night, I won't drink for the rest of the week as alcohol is full of calories."

She added: "I'm a perfectionist and now I've got the hourglass figure I've always wanted. When I say I'm going to do something I do it.

Miss Cassidy recently told The Mirror: "I'm comfortable with my weight between 8st 8lb and 8st 1lb - it's important to have that extra half-stone leeway, so you don't panic if you put on a few pounds."

She had breast implants three years ago to boost her curves from a 36B to a 36D.

And she admitted: "I love my boob job and wouldn't rule out having more surgery - never say never."

Trim: Natalie works out with her personal trainer for two hours a day - but admits she likes a glass of wine

Natalie Cassidy goes from sleek to sloppy after a night of hard partying

Former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy set aside her new healthy lifestyle for night of party-hopping in London, and she certainly let loose.

The night started quietly enough with an evening at the Novello Theatre in Aldwych to watch a performance of Into The Hoods, a hip-hop take on the fairytale musical Into the Woods.

Night out: Natalie Cassidy arrived at the Novello Theatre last night looking sleek in a strapless frock; she headed home at 4.30am looking worse for wear

She arrived looking sleek in a black and white striped strapless dress that hugged her newly slimmed down frame, which is two and a half stone lighter than it once was.

But by night's end, after hitting show's afterparty at Covent Garden's Tamarai nightclub followed by a 4:30am snack stop at Balans restaurant, she was a little bleary-eyed and worse for wear as she piled into the back of a cab.

The 24-year-old was clearly revelling in her night off after the months of discipline it took to drop four dress sizes.

Bleary eyed: Natalie made her way home around 4.30am in a right state

Natalie, who is 5ft 4in, told Now magazine: "I was always bubbly and confident before, but it does make you feel better about yourself.

"I was 10st 8lb when I started this diet, but it was my body mass index that scared me. I wasn't just obese – I was off the scale."

Natalie says since aquiring a slimmer figure she's "become a bit of a fox."

"I get wolf whistled at in the street and I don't turn round because I'm not used to it.

She's landed herself a new boyfriend, although she's remaining tight-lipped about his identity.

She revealed: "I've just started seeing someone. He's lovely. We met on my last job, so it's quite new – and that's all I'm telling."