Michelle Ryan, best known for playing Zoe Slater on EastEnders, has spoken candidly about her decision to leave the soap in 2005 and her subsequent mental health struggles. The actress, who returned to Albert Square this year after a 20-year absence, said she found the daily routine of soap acting 'boring' and wanted to pursue other opportunities.
Ryan, who joined EastEnders at age 16, explained to the Bristol Evening Post at the time: 'Doing the same thing day in, day out. It's just so boring. I like to jump from different things. I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship.' After leaving, she moved to the US to star in the short-lived series Bionic Woman, but the cancellation took a toll on her mental health.
Speaking about her return to EastEnders, Ryan said the timing felt right after reconnecting with former co-stars and seeing fans' continued love for Zoe Slater online. She described returning to set as 'coming home' but warned that Zoe's life in Walford will be turbulent: 'Zoe is a mess… she's been really struggling on her own.'
Zoe Slater is set to play a key role in the soap's Christmas Day episode, where a festive feast at The Queen Vic leads to a dangerous situation with 'catastrophic consequences' for the Slater family and a rival clan.
