Former EastEnders star Kara Tointon has been left seriously injured after performing a stunt on her most recent TV project.

The actor, who is well-known for playing Dawn Swann on the BBC soap opera, revealed that she tore a ligament while filming for Channel 5 drama Too Good To Be True.

She said: "The irony is that I love stunt work and wish over the years I had done more of it because I’m a trained gymnast."

Speaking with OK! magazine, she added: "But this one ended very badly. My knee buckled and I fell down in real pain. I’d torn the ACL – a ligament that helps connect the thigh bone to the shinbone – and was struggling to walk for the final two weeks.

"I couldn’t even dance at the show’s wrap party. Although I gave it a go!"

Kara starred in EastEnders for four years, acting on the BBC show from 2005 to 2009.

EastEnders star Kara Tointon reveals if she will ever return to the BBC soap

The actor played a key role in several major storylines such as when she was taken prisoner by Dr May Wright and Rob Minter.

Since exiting the show, she has starred in a number of other programmes such as Mr Selfridge, Bedlam and The Halcyon.

In 2010, she competed in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing, going on to be crowned champion.

Revealing to fans if they can expect her to return to Albert Square, she told The Sun newspaper: "Every year I get asked about it.

"It’s the thing I’m most known for, that I was most watched in, but I really enjoy doing lots of other things so I can’t see it, no."

EastEnders and Too Good To Be True air on BBC One and Channel 5.