Michelle Ryan, 42, has spoken out about the planned death of her character Zoe Slater in the BBC soap EastEnders, stating it felt like a "natural conclusion." Ryan returned to the role last June after a two-decade absence, but her character's final scenes are set to air later this month.
The actress explained that her return was always intended to be for a limited period. "My agent and I sort of discussed from the outset that it would be a year," Ryan told Radio Times. "And I think that when we came to look at where Zoe was going, it just seemed like a natural conclusion for her to die, because for her to run away again would have gone against everything she'd fought for; for her children."
Ryan acknowledged that some fans had expressed disappointment with her comeback, with her return being described as "flat and lacklustre." She emphasized that despite the backlash, she understood the creative decision to kill off her character. "So as sad as it was to hear that Zoe was going to be killed off, I was like, ‘I completely understand that. And I'd always felt that I would be going back for a year because I really do like the variety I have with my career and playing different parts."
The actress also addressed speculation of any conflict with executive producer Ben Wadey, asserting that they are on good terms. "I loved working with Ben and told how I would love to work with him once again at some point because he's ‘such a good boss’," she said. "Ben has been so supportive the entire time, and I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. So I think that it will be nice if people can embrace the storyline."
Zoe Slater's departure is described as a full-circle moment, mirroring her original arrival on the show 26 years ago. Her character will steal the same black cab her adoptive father Charlie Slater drove when she first appeared. The storyline concludes with Zoe hitting her head after stealing the cab, leading to her death, with her mother Kat Moon discovering her body.
Filming her final scenes was an emotional experience, Ryan noted, with co-stars Laila Morse and Jessie Wallace becoming upset on set. Ryan expressed her understanding that no character is bigger than the show itself and hoped fans would find solace in the new storylines that would emerge from Zoe's comeback.
Ryan originally left EastEnders in 2005 to pursue opportunities in Hollywood, including a lead role in the American remake of The Bionic Woman. However, that series was cut short due to a writers' strike. She later returned to the UK, appearing in the BBC fantasy series Merlin and a Doctor Who special. Ryan admitted to a "big mistake" in turning down an audition for the award-winning series Boardwalk Empire, a role that ultimately went to Kelly Macdonald.