Michelle Ryan: 'Leaving EastEnders was a mutual decision'
Michelle Ryan reprised her role as Zoe to make a highly-anticipated return to Albert Square last year, after a 20-year absence from the BBC soap.
Michelle Ryan has insisted her EastEnders departure was a mutual decision.
The 42-year-old actress reprised her role as Zoe to make a highly-anticipated return to Albert Square last year, after a 20-year absence from the BBC soap.
But after an underwhelming response from viewers, Zoe is to be killed off - in what has been dubbed a “dull” exit storyline which will see her bump her head and be found dead in bed.
While rumours have been swirling about Michelle’s exit, the actress insisted in a new interview with the Radio Times that she always knew the return was going to be short-lived.
She said: “My agent and I sort of discussed from the outset that it would be a year, 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. 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. But it was such a gift to be able to go back and have a year of playing her and getting to see all my old friends like [Laila Morse] and Jessie [Wallace] and Shane [Richie].
"And they've got such a solid, brilliant cast, and they are the loveliest group of people, so there's so much camaraderie there, and I just feel so lucky that I got to go back when I did."
Michelle also said she feels as though Zoe was able to fully explore a return thanks to the storylines she was given.
She mused: “I know sometimes you can work on something and be very passionate, and then it goes out, and some people respond to it, some people don’t, but I feel that Zoe really got to explore some great storylines, and just working with that company of actors was one of the best experiences I've had.”
In response to speculation that Michelle’s exit was due to falling out with soap bosses, the screen star was quick to praise executive producer Ben Wadey, who was responsible for orchestrating the Zoe return.
Michelle added: “I’ve loved working with Ben, and hopefully, we might find something else that we can work together on down the line, because he's such a good boss.
“I’m not somebody who's just going to talk b******* and, actually, 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. And even if people don't like it, then don't worry because there are [whole different storylines]."
