Matt Lapinskas

Early and personal life

Lapinskas was born in 1989 in Surrey and is of Canadian Lithuanian origin from his father's side. He studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts at Brooklands College, and became a member of their theatre company, where he won a number of accolades for his performance in The Opposite of People. He then went on to study at Italia Conti in London from 2007–2010, where he graduated with a BA(HONS) in Acting. Lapinskas was in a relationship with his former-EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean. They met on his first day on set and started dating two months later. Lapinskas described it as "love at first sight". The couple split up in February 2013, after alleged reports that Lapinskas was having an affair with Dancing on Ice partner, Brianne Delcourt, although this was denied by Shona McGarty herself. He is no longer with Delcourt and after a messy break up, she went to The Mirror accusing him of cheating on her with his current girlfriend, actress and model Camilla Rowland, although inside sources confirm that the couple had already separated at that point. Lapinskas plays the guitar and sings.

He is also an avid football fan who supports Manchester United, and plays regular charity football games for 'Once Upon a Smile'.

Career

Lapinskas played a student in the 2007 Stephen Surjik film I Want Candy, and in 2011, he was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, playing Anthony Moon. Of his casting, he said "I'm absolutely over the moon! It's been my lifetime ambition to be on EastEnders — I have watched it growing up with my nan, who is a big fan. I'm so pleased to get my first TV role, I just didn't believe it would be so big. I've met some of the cast I will be working with who were very friendly and welcoming and I can't wait to start filming". Lapinskas stated that he was "nervous" about debuting, but as he had shot an episode of EastEnders' spin-off EastEnders E20 before appearing in the main show, he felt it helped him to feel more comfortable.

On 9 May 2012, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported Lapinskas would be leaving EastEnders and his character would depart on screen in the coming weeks. Of his exit, Lapinskas said "I'm having a fantastic time working on EastEnders and playing the role of Anthony Moon. Working with David Essex, Tony Discipline and the EastEnders cast has been an absolute pleasure. Although I will really miss EastEnders and everyone involved, I am very excited about future projects and what is next for me as an actor." In an interview with Inside Soap, Lapinskas said that EastEnders was his first job outside of drama school and added that he has learnt a lot from the people he worked with. He also added "I was quite disappointed when I found out Anthony would be leaving—I'd have liked to do a lot more stuff with him. It's a shame to not be a part of what's coming up."

In December 2012, he was revealed as one of 12 celebrities taking part in the eighth series of Dancing on Ice. Lapinskas was Dancing on Ice (Series 8) runner-up to Olympic bronze medalist Beth Tweddle. He then took part in the Dancing on Ice UK tour. Since the show Lapinskas has played Prince Charming in pantomime productions in Bromley, Sunderland and Bournemouth. He also toured the country with Bill Kenwright's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat playing 'Pharoah'. It was during this time that he met his current girlfriend Camilla Rowland.

Filmography