Jenna Russell takes over ‘Michelle Fowler’ role in EastEnders

Actress Jenna Russell has taken over the role of Michelle Fowler in EastEnders and made her debut as the character in tonight’s (24 December) episode.

Michelle – formerly played by Susan Tully – pulled up outside of the Minute Mart in the back of a black cab before being reunited with long-time best friend Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean).

“It is a great honour to play such an iconic character. I know the audience loved Michelle Fowler so much, and even though she hasn’t been on our screen for twenty years, she’s very much in the fans’ psyche. When I used to watch EastEnders all those years ago, she was one of my favourite characters. I’m extremely excited for what is in store for Michelle.” – Jenna Russell

Michelle was last seen departing Albert Square with daughter Vicki in October 1995 for a new life in America. She’d just found out that Sharon’s estranged husband Grant (Ross Kemp) had put her in the family way after a one night stand and was keen to start afresh. Now she is back and proves to be a more than welcome sight for Sharon, who is finding the strain of husband, Phil (Steve McFadden), awaiting a liver transplant all too much to cope with.

In the soap’s 35 minute Christmas Eve instalment, Sharon was stunned to see Phil waiting at home after walking out on his family days before. His apology to Sharon came with a touching gift – an eternity ring – and as an overwhelmed Sharon stepped outside for some air, she came face to face with Michelle.

EastEnders bosses say the show will delve more into the reasons behind Michelle’s return to the Square in episodes airing in early January, in particular in a special episode focusing on her and Sharon.

“I am thrilled to have secured Jenna Russell to play Michelle Fowler, one of the show’s most celebrated characters. The Square really has missed her over the past twenty years. Having worked with her before, Jenna was always in mind when I first started planning for Michelle’s return. I think the audience are going to take Michelle back into their hearts; still flawed, complicated and infuriating after two decades away, but still loveable all the same. It’s going to be appointment TV watching Michelle’s car crash of a life unravel all over again.” – Executive Producer, Sean  O’Connor

Award-winning actress Jenna Russell has notched up many television and stage credits. Her accolades include an Olivier Award and Theatre World Award for Broadway Debut Performance playing Dot, in Sunday In The Park with George, which she performed in London and on Broadway. 

Jenna has played leading roles at The National Theatre, Royal Court, RSC and Almeida Theatre. Her TV work includes leading roles as Deborah in Born and Bred, Maggie in On The Up, Bernadette in Picking Up The Pieces, and Petra in the 2009 version of Minder alongside EastEnders’ Shane Richie. Fans of the comedy space series Red Dwarf will also know she sings the theme tune to the long running show. Jenna has also appeared on our screens in Call the Midwife, The Paradise and Holby City.

Fresh from starring in popular children’s drama Grange Hill, actress Susan Tully originated the character of Michelle when EastEnders launched in 1985. She played the role for ten years until 1995, featuring in a number high profile storylines in that time.

When Michelle fell pregnant at the tender age of 16 in 1985, an ‘whodunit’ over the father gave the fledgling soap opera a much-needed foothold in the ratings. The storyline earnt the man eventually revealed as responsible for her predicament – Den Watts, the father of her best friend Sharon – the moniker ‘Dirty Den’ in the popular press.

She gave birth to daughter Vicky in May 1986 and went on to marry hapless barman Tom ‘Lofty’ Holloway (Tom Watt), having previously stood him up at the alter when Den wooed her with a gold pendant, and pledged his love to her. It was a short lived partnership when their union ended acrimoniously just over a year later when she aborted their child.

Other storylines saw Michelle juggle motherhood with a university course; attempt life as a fugitive when boyfriend Clyde Tavernier (Steven Woodcock) was linked to the murder of Eddie Royle; take a bullet in a 1994 siege at the Queen Vic; and embark on a relationship with her personal tutor, Geoff (David Roper) who was some years older than she. Despite their relationship having ended some months prior, Geoff helped Michelle secure a job in America and she bid farewell to the Square in October 1995. She was pregnant to Grant Mitchell at the time following a one night stand and the fact he’d fathered her son Mark (Ned Porteous) remained a secret from everyone for over 20 years. Mark visited Walford earlier this year while his sister Vicky is currently living in Australia.

Tully began her acting career aged seven when she joined the Anna Scher Theatre School, two years later she made her television debut as a presenter on London Weekend Television’s children’s series Our Show. A switch to Southampton’s Southern Television saw her one of the regulars on Saturday morning magazine series The Saturday Banana which was presented by Bill Oddie. However Susan soon left presenting behind and returned to acting with the 1979 ATV series Why Can’t I Go Home, which was set on a children’s ward telling the story of the young patients. Other roles swiftly followed including in the movies Second to the Right and On Till Morning. It was however the BBC’s Grange Hill which, prior to EastEnders, became her best known role.

Since quitting acting Tully has since gone on to become a successful TV director including directing episodes of BBC drama Lark Rise To Candleford, LWT’s London’s Burning and a producer on Thames Television’s The Bill for ITV.