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 |
Published 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. Either that or a singing competition.

But re 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 she thought for years that they were just sisters.

The last time we saw Zoe in Walford was back in 2005, but what is she doing now?

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 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.

michelle ryan jessie wallace eastenders
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 2022?

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

Well, by that we mean it appears that she's very private persom, but above is a photo of Michelle at a fancy event in 2014. That's all we've got really...

How old is Michelle Ryan?

Michelle is 39 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.

Check out: original EastEnders cast then and now

Gallery

CLOSER Original EastEnders cast - where are they now? SLIDER

EastEnders then and now1 of 22
CREDIT: BBC

Den Watts, played by Leslie Grantham

'Dirty' Den Watts was Albert's Square's original villain, terrorising his wife and neighbours and getting his teenaged daughter's best friend pregnant.His marriage to alcoholic Angie Watts was one of the most tempestuous the soap had ever seen and a year after we were introduced to them he handed her divorce papers on the 1986 Christmas Day episode – watched by a record breaking 30.15million viewers. He was "killed off" by an East End gang in 1989, but returned again in 2003 for an 18 month stint, before being killed off for good at the hands of his second wife, Chrissie Watts.His character has been described by EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge as being arguably one of the most iconic soap characters ever.

EastEnders then and now2 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Den Watts, played by Leslie Grantham

Actor Leslie Grantham's second departure from the show was shrouded in scandal as he was at the time embroiled in reports that he had exposed himself online to a 23-year-old female jouralist (lewd and offensive comments he'd made about his co-stars were also revealed in the national press). He published an autobiography in 2006, detailing his explosive life as an actor and previous misadventures before his time in the public eye – including serving a prison sentence of ten years for the murder of a taxi driver.He died in 2018.

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CREDIT: BBC

Angie Watts, Anita Dobson

She ran the local pub, The Queen Victoria, with her husband Den, but beneath her successful business and (sometimes) happy home life, Angie is struggling with an addiction to alcohol. She's desperate to make her marriage to Den work, despie his regular flings with other women and a long term affair. Faced with losing him, Angie panics and tells Den she has just months to live – ultimately resulting in those Christmas Day divorce papers.Angie left Walford for Spain and later Florida, before news travelled back home of her death from cirrhosis of the liver in 2002.

EastEnders then and now4 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Angie Watts, Anita Dobson

Not that Anita's life and times have been defined by her marital status, but she did wed Queen guitarist Brian May in the year 2000 so it deserves a passing mention.After her exit from the soap in 1988, Angie enjoyed plenty of success in the world of TV, theatre and music, including coming seventh in 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing aged 62. She's also worked on The Bill, Casualty and Holby City (natch) and has accumulated a number of stage accolades too.For her time on EastEnders as Angie Watts, Dobson received the Pye Award for Outstanding Female Personality.In February 2019 she attended the Baftas with husband Brian, looking as glamorous as ever.

EastEnders then and now5 of 22
CREDIT: BBC

Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean

The adopted daughter of Den and Angie Watts, Sharon was every inch the spoiled teen in Walford, always with the best clothes and must-have tech. She's close with both parents – when Den and Angie split, Sharon is caught in the middle until Angie leaves. In 2002, she travels to Miami to bring Angie's body back to bury her. She's left and returned to Walford three times, most recently in 2012, and now runs the Queen Vic herself. Despite being an EastEnder's favourite from the start, Shazza's biggest storyline to date remains the explosive 'Sharongate' – during her marriage to Walford hard-man Grant Mitchell, Sharon was conducting a secret affair with his brother, Phil, the uncovering of which is one of EastEnder's highest viewed episodes of all time. She went on to marry Phil, who she's still happily married to.

EastEnders then and now6 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean

Letitia 'Tish' Dean has become a bona fide A Lister in her own right, arguably one of the biggest stars to come out of the soap in it's 34 year run. She was already a successful actress when she joined the soap in the 80s, having starred in Brookside, Grange Hill and The Hello Girls before taking on the role of Sharon.She's a regular on the pantomime circuit, had her own run on Strictly (just like on-screen mum Angie) and released a fitness DVD in 2008. The classic soap star trajectory.

EastEnders then and now7 of 22
CREDIT: BBC

Michelle Fowler, played by Susan Tully

Early episodes saw Michelle Fowler compete with best friend Sharon for the affections of local teen heart-throb Kelvin Carpenter, but her storylines quickly became less wholesome when she found herself dealing with a teen pregnancy. They got even more explosive when the baby turned out to be Den's, who promises to support her and their baby as long as his paternity is kept a secret. In 1995, Michelle is shot by a friend of Grant Mitchell, her arch-nemesis and then husband of her best friend Sharon. She decided she's no longer safe and needs to get away from Grant, emigrating to Alabama with her daughter, Vicki.

EastEnders then and now8 of 22
CREDIT: BBC

Michelle Fowler, played by Susan Tully

Fans were thrilled when EastEnders bosses announced the return of Michelle in 2016, but the recasting of the character with actress Jenna Russell left some pining after the good old days. Original actress Susan Tully dropped out of public consciousness when she quit the role and we haven't heard hide nor hair of her since.Jenna Russel took over when a disgraced Michelle returned to London following a sordid affair with an American pupil in her career as a college lecturer.

EastEnders then and now9 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Pauline Fowler, played by Wendy Richard

Pauline Fowler, mum of Michelle, was an outspoken, headstrong woman, and clearly passed on her compassion to her daughter. Her marriage to Arthur Fowler was by no means perfect, but after his sudden death in 1996 she was bereft and never truly found love again.She was betrayed on many occasions by her family, first with Michelle leaving and later daughter-in-law Sonia Jackson trying to turn her son, Martin, against her.Pauline's final scene, after a mammoth 21 years on the show, saw her die alone on Arthur's Bench in the Square on Christmas Eve, going down in history as one of the most dramatic soap deaths of all time.

EastEnders then and now10 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Pauline Fowler, played by Wendy Richard

Wendy Richard was already a bit of a star when she joined the soap, the only truly known well name in the 1985 cast thanks to her time on 1970s comedy hit Are You Being Served playing Miss Shirley Brahms. After a long and illustrious career winning her national acclaim and even an Order of the British Empire by the Queen in the year 2000, Wendy died at a Harley Street clinic in London, where she was being treated for breast cancer, in 2009.

EastEnders then and now11 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Lou Beale, played by Anna Wing

The original Albert Square matriarch, Lou Beale was a formidable character who ran her family with an iron fist, but also plenty of love.

EastEnders then and now12 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Lou Beale, played by Anna Wing

Anna Wing was an actual IRL East Ender, and had already amassed plenty of TV credits before she joined the soap, including Dr Who. After she left she mainly worked on stage, but also continued to work on plenty of British TV and film productions including The Calcium Kid with Orlando Bloom and kids film Tooth in 2004. In 2009 she attended her on screen daughter Wendy's funeral. Anna passed away in her sleep in 2013, age 98.

EastEnders then and now13 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Pete Beale, played by Peter Dean

Son of Lou and twin bother of Pauline, Pete ran the family veg stall on Albert Square – a traditional stalwart of East End life. Pete and Pauline grew up at Number 45 Albert Square (which in 2019 is still owned by his son Ian), and his childhood friend Den Watts lived nearby.When we meet Pete he is an honest, hardworking man, married to Kathy. Kathy is his second wife - we learn that when Pete was a teenager a one night stand with local prostitute Pat Harris resulted in a pregnancy and subsequent marriage. Some of Pete's biggest storylines revolved around confirming the paternity of the two sons produced during their marriage, Simon and David.

EastEnders then and now14 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Pete Beale, played by Peter Dean

Pete Beale left Walford in 1993 to elope with his third wife, Rose Chapman. But the character is killed off for good later on in the year after actor Peter Dean publicly slammed the BBC for his early dismissal, blaming lazy and unimaginative scriptwriters.In fact, he gave a full exposeé to The Sun in which he slammed other actors on the soap, leading the show's creator Julia Smith to release a statement saying slander of the show would not be tolerated.Since he left EastEnders, Peter's TV credits have dwindled although he has featured in comedy sketch shows like Little Britain and Bo Selecta. He most recently took part in the third series of the BBC's Real Marigold Hotel, in summer 2018.

EastEnders then and now15 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth

Kathy is introduced to the series as the young, pretty wife of Pete Beale and Ian's mother. She works behind the bar at the Vic with her friend Angie Watts, and helps out at the family fruit stall. But when she changes jobs to work at the new wine bar across the road, her storylines get more complex. She is raped by her new boss which eventually exposes an illegitimate daughter, Donna, from an earlier rape as a teenager. Pete never believes that Kathy was blameless, and their relationship turns abusive as Pete turns to drink before they eventually separate. Kathy's subsequent marriages and relationships are all marred by domestic violence. After leaving and returning to Walford on various occasions in the late 90s, she eventually returned for good in 2015, following her daughter Donna's suicide.

EastEnders then and now16 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth

Gillian Taylforth who plays Kathy basically hasn't aged a day since she joined the soap 34 years ago, which makes her maternal relationship to Ian a bit weird. But during her break from EastEnders, her main role was as Jackie Pascoe-Webb on all five series of Footballer's Wives. She's done various reality TV work including Big Brother in 20013, and for a time was a recurring panelist on Loose Women.She's also had long term roles on The Bill and Hollyoaks.

EastEnders then and now17 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt

Ian Beale was - sorry, is - the son of Kathy and Pete Beale, the grandson of Lou Beale and the cousin of Michelle Fowler. As a teenager Ian was an enterprising lad, arguing with his father over his ambitions of working in the catering business but following his dreams anyway, encouraged by his nan, Lou. He buys his first business, a local cafe, soon after graduating from college.In his personal life, Ian experiences plenty of romantic set backs, including a failed relationship with his childhood friend Sharon, and is even accused of fathering his cousin Michelle's baby when she falls pregnant.

EastEnders then and now18 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt

Over 30 years on, Adam Woodyatt is the only cast member never to have left the Square, and as such Ian has had more dramatic, touching and down right unbelievable storylines than any other character. He's been married five times (to four different women), has had two aborted engagements, fathered three children (and suffered the death of his daughter Lucy) and even been homeless. However he's currently the proud owner of multiple businesses in Walford, and recently fans were shocked when they learned the monthly takings from his fish and chip shop alone exceeded £10,000.

EastEnders then and now19 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Nick Cotton, played by John Aldman

'Nasty' Nick Cotton was another of the soap's original villains, and gave Dirty Den a run for his money. In fact he was worse, brought in by the soap's producers as an "agent of chaos" responsible for the show's first murder, Reg Cox, who was found dead in the opening scene of the opening episode. Throughout 30 on-off years on the show, Nick was involved in multiple deaths. But drugs were his ultimate downfall – after battling a heroin addiction throughout the 90s, an overdose in 2015 left him fighting for his life.He died on the 15th of February 2015 – exactly 30 years after Reg Cox had died in the same spot – and his dying words were admitting to the murder.

EastEnders then and now20 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Nick Cotton, played by John Aldman

Nick has had more returns and departures from the soap than any other character, so it makes sense that his credits outside of EastEnders have been sporadic. He's a fan of pantomime, but his real love is for music and in 2001 he performed in the Leiber and Stoller tribute evening at the Hammersmith Apollo, singing Trouble, originally performed by Elvis Presley.In 2002, he toured around the UK playing Billy Flynn in the long-running musical Chicago AND in 2010 he joined a metal band called Heavy Metal Kids (tbf we can totally see that). Oh, and he's also won the prestigious Rear of the Year award in 2001, which is the real accolade here.

EastEnders then and now21 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Dot Cotton, played by June Brown

The mother of Nick, Dot was introduced as a gossiping, God-fearing local woman who'd lived in Walford nearly her whole life and was estranged from her cheating husband. She had a difficult relationship with her son, and would ask no questions when he regularly disappeared for weeks on end.Her Samaritan-esque ways are a great comfort to many in Walford but also causes some difficulty, gaining her a reputation as something of a meddling busy body. She struggles to cope with Nick's heroin addiction and tries her best to help him but has never been the motherly type. Ultimately when Nick overdoses in 2015, she doesn't get help for him and allows him to die.

EastEnders then and now22 of 22
CREDIT: Getty

Dot Cotton, played by June Brown

Dot very nearly matches Ian's incredible 34 year run, but left Walford in 1993 to go and live in Graves End with her grandson, Ashley and his mum.She returned in 1997 and has been a stalwart of the Square ever since. In the year 2000, Dot made the selfless decision to help her old friend Ethel Skinner, another original cast member, to die on her 85th birthday, after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

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