By Sarah Bull and Tara Evans
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Former EastEnders actress Martine McCutcheon has been declared bankrupt.
The 37-year-old star petitioned for bankruptcy at Kingston-Upon-Thames County Court under the name Martine Kimberley Sherri Ponting, according to trade publication Credit Today.
Her discharge from bankruptcy is set for 2nd January next year and KPMG has been appointed as her trustee.
Not her Perfect Moment: Martine McCutcheon, seen here in an episode of Midsomer Murders which aired last month, has been declared bankrupt
Wedded bliss: Martine married Jack McManus last September in Italy
McCutcheon, who lives in the Surrey town of Esher, is best known for her role as Tiffany on BBC soap EastEnders - who married Ross Kemp's Grant in the show in the mid-1990s - but followed that with a successful career as a singer and continued to land high-profile roles on stage and screen.
The actress, who was born in Hackney in London's East End, made a platinum selling album, appeared in the Richard Curtis film Love Actually and won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2002 for her stage portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
In January 2010, she became the face of Danone's UK advertising campaign for its Activia yogurt brand until she was replaced by Gok Wan last year.
The 37-year-old also published a novel, The Mistress which became a top ten bestseller, in 2009.
Her marriage to Jack McManus in Italy's Lake Como appeared in Hello! Magazine in September last year and last month she appeared in one episode of ITV's Midsomer Murders.
She is not the first celebrity to end up in money troubles despite an apparently successful and lucrative career.
Former T4 presenter Miquita Oliver was declared bankrupt in November 2011 due to a petition by HMRC over £174,000 worth of unpaid taxes.
Back in the day: Martine as Tiffany in EastEnders with Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell
Jack of all trades: Martine had a number one single with Perfect Moment, and achieved success as Eliza Doolittle in the stage version of My Fair Lady in 2001
Writing talent: Martine also released her debut novel The Mistress in 2009
And former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona was declared bankrupt in August 2008 due to unpaid taxes amounting to £417,000.
Another EastEnders star, Joe Swash, was declared bankrupt in November 2009 by London's High Court after failing to pay a £20,000 tax bill.
WHAT DOES BANKRUPTCY MEAN?
Bankruptcy means that your assets are sold and the money is used to pay your creditors as much as possible.
If you are made bankrupt you will not be able to:
- Use your bank or building society account or credit card [You get a basic bank account instead]
- Obtain credit for over £500
- Trade in any business under any other name
- Promote, form or manage a limited company
- Be the trustee of a charity or pension fund
If things get too much...
Then you should speak to someone immediately. If you feel that you can't repay your loan or keep up with your credit card payments then contact your credit-provider, they will be able to set up a repayment structure for you.
If it is more serious, like you can't afford your rent or mortgage payments or have an unpaid tax-bill, then there are resources that provide free independent advice.
Free debt advice is available from Citizens Advice, National Debtline, StepChange or the Money Advice Trust.
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