Michelle Ryan: where is Zoe Slater from EastEnders now?

It's been 16 years since Zoe Slater left Albert Square for Ibiza

michelle ryan zoe slater eastenders

by Eden-Olivia Lord |
Updated on

Remember Michelle Ryan - aka Zoe Slater - from EastEnders? One of the OG Walford noughties teenage tearaways? Well, she's looking very different nowadays...

Let us remind you of the iconic soap star: it's 2001 and you're sitting around the TV with your family watching EastEnders.

Zoe Slater is planning to move to Spain with her uncle Harry but her 'sister' Kat Slater refuses to let her go.

You're on the edge of your seat and then you hear the iconic lines, "You ain't my muvva".... "YES, I AM".

eastenders michelle ryan zoe slater kat slater jessie wallace
zoe and kat together ©BBC

Your jaw has dropped and you have no words.

Now, do you remember Michelle? She played Kat's daughter Zoe, but for years she thought they were just sisters.

The last time we saw Zoe in Walford was back in 2005, but what is she doing now? We've investigated...

Who is Michelle Ryan?

Michelle is an actress best known for her role in EastEnders. However, since starring in the BBC soap, she's gone on to star in Merlin, Doctor Who, Cabaret (with Will Young), Bionic Woman and something called Cockneys VS Zombies (an unearthed EastEnders spin-off, perhaps?). Fun fact, she auditioned for the role of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, but lost out to Eva Green.

Who was Michelle Ryan in EastEnders?

Michelle played Zoe Slater and she joined the show (and the Slater family) in 2000, when she was just 16 years old.

eastenders kat zoe slater
kat and zoe had a strained relationship ©bbc

What happened to Zoe Slater?

Zoe discovering that her 'sister' Kat was actually her biological mum was one of EastEnders' biggest shocks during the early noughties. Kat was raped by her uncle Harry and fell pregnant with Zoe at 13, so she was raised as her sister instead.

After running away from home and becoming homeless, Zoe fell into prostitution. She later slept with Dirty Den so they could pretend she was pregnant with his son Dennis Rickman's baby - thus ending his relationship with his adopted half sister Sharon Watts.

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the infamous night chrissie killed dirty den ©bbc

Later, Zoe joined forces with Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell to get revenge on Dirty Den for the way he treated them all. While Zoe believed that she killed the villain, she was unaware that Chrissie was actually responsible for his death.

The news eventually came to light that Chrissie killed her husband, she went to prison and Zoe left for Ibiza.

In 2015, it came to light that Kat actually gave birth to twins, meaning Zoe has a twin brother. The last viewers heard, Zoe refused to see her mum but has since gotten engaged.

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michelle alongside her former co-star jessie wallace ©Getty Images

What happened with Zoe Slater and Kelly Taylor?

During her time on Albert Square, Zoe got involved with Dennis Rickman, Dirty Den, she got engaged to Anthony Trueman and she famously kissed her BFF Kelly.

The latter happened on a night out on New Year's Eve back in 2003. Kelly and Zoe got stranded and feeling emotional they shared a kiss.

The kiss between the two friends received a lot of criticism at the time, but Brooke Kinsella, who played Kelly, defended the moment and said, "It's not a gratuitous ratings getting move, it's not some kind of big lesbian kiss.

"It's the way two best friends who have a lot of love for each other show their emotions."

Is Michelle Ryan returning to EastEnders?

We highly doubt it.

Speaking to the Daily Record she admitted, "I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship.

"I always wanted to go on and do different things. I have some really good friends from that show but the door is closed."

michelle ryan Tracy-Ann Oberman and Kim Metcalf
michelle alongside her former co-stars who played Sam Mitchell and Chrissie Watts ©Getty Images

She added, "I've always taken chances. I think that's how you progress – by stepping out and doing different things. I really do like my freedom and jumping from job to job.

"I just want to work with people I admire and respect, wherever that be – big budget, low budget, leading role, supporting role."

And before that she told the Bristol Evening Post that towards the end of her time on the show she "got quite bored".

What is Michelle Ryan doing now?

Wondering what Michelle is up to now? Well that's a very good question. She's pretty much fallen off the grid.

What does Michelle Ryan look like in 2024?

That's a good question. She's a very private person, but above is a photo of Michelle at a fancy event in 2014. That's all we've got really...

eastenders michelle ryan now
Michelle at an event in 2014 ©Getty Images

How old is Michelle Ryan?

Michelle is 40 years old. Her birthday is 22 April 1984.

Is Michelle Ryan married?

Again, not much is known about Michelle's private life. We love how low-key she is. Saying that, she did date Hollywood leading man Jason Segel in 2009, which is FAR from low-key.

Does Michelle Ryan have social media?

We've had a look on Twitter and Instagram and cannot find Michelle on either platform. So if you want to see her, it looks like you'll have to watch old EastEnders episodes.

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