Michelle Ryan, the 42-year-old actress who portrayed Zoe Slater on EastEnders, was recently photographed enjoying a day out with Jessie Wallace, her on-screen mother and fellow cast member. This outing occurs approximately one month after Ryan's permanent exit from the BBC soap opera, following her character's storyline culmination.
Ryan returned to EastEnders as Zoe Slater in June of the previous year, marking a comeback after a two-decade absence. However, her second tenure on the show has concluded, with her final scenes set to air later this year. Unlike her previous departure in 2005, which left the door open for a potential return, this time Zoe Slater has been killed off, precluding any future comebacks for the character.
Following the filming of her final scenes, Ryan documented her day with Wallace, 54, who plays Kat Slater, via Instagram. The actress shared a selfie of the pair, with Wallace playfully posing in the driver's seat of a boat. Ryan captioned the post, "Lovely day out with Jess."
Sources indicate that Ryan's departure marks the conclusion of a storyline that had been in development for some time. While details surrounding Zoe's exit remain undisclosed by the show's producers, it is expected to be dramatic, consistent with the Slater family's history on the show.
Ryan's return to EastEnders last year was met with anticipation from fans, though some reports suggest her comeback was perceived as underwhelming. One insider commented to The Sun on Sunday that the return had been "somewhat flat and lacklustre," adding that there had been "some disappointment backstage that the return was short-lived."
An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed Zoe Slater's departure, stating, "We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers."
Ryan initially left EastEnders in 2005 to pursue opportunities in Hollywood, securing the lead role in the American remake of "Bionic Woman." At that time, she expressed a desire to avoid being typecast, viewing her role on EastEnders as an "apprenticeship" and aiming for a career in film and modeling.
Her burgeoning Hollywood career was impacted by the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which led to the cancellation of "Bionic Woman" after only eight episodes. Subsequent roles in the UK included playing Nimueh in the BBC series "Merlin" and a guest appearance in "Doctor Who." Ryan later revealed she had turned down an audition for "Boardwalk Empire," a decision she later described as a "big mistake" given the series' critical acclaim and numerous awards.
During her initial four-year stint on EastEnders, Ryan was involved in a pivotal storyline that revealed Kat Slater to be Zoe's biological mother, not her sister. This revelation led to the iconic scene where Zoe exclaims, "You ain't my mother!" to which Kat replies, "Yes I am!" This storyline became one of the most memorable in the show's history.
Upon the announcement of her return last year, Ryan had expressed that it felt like "coming home." She cited a confluence of factors for her decision, including reconnecting with former cast members, observing continued fan support for the character on social media, and a keen interest from a new EastEnders executive producer who was a significant fan of the Slater family. She stated that the proposed storylines and scripts made her confident it was the right choice.