Showbiz News
-
-
-
Loading
Loading
A beloved EastEnders star has made a surprise return to the world of soap, but this time, she’s swapped Albert Square for sunny Summer Bay.
Hannah Waterman, best known to British audiences as Laura Beale, has joined the cast of Home and Away, marking a major comeback to the genre that made her a household name.
Hannah first arrived in Walford in 2000, playing Ian Beale’s long-suffering wife Laura. Over her four years in EastEnders, she was at the centre of some of the soap’s biggest storylines before meeting a tragic end in 2004, when Laura fell down the stairs after tripping over a toy and died instantly.
Laura met her end during a dramatic confrontation with Janine Credit: BBC
Since her shocking exit, Hannah has kept busy with roles in Doctors, The Bill, New Tricks and Holby City. But fans may not know that over a decade ago she decided to leave the UK altogether, relocating to Australia for a new life and career.
In Australia, she continued acting in theatre and TV, building a solid reputation in the industry. Now, she’s dipping her toes back into the world of soap with her role in the long-running Australian favourite Home and Away, which is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary with reruns and special tributes.
A source close to the show said: “Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she’s still acting. She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows, it could mean she finds her way back more permanently.”
While details of her Home and Away character are being kept under wraps, Hannah’s involvement has already delighted fans on both sides of the globe. With the Aussie soap enjoying a renaissance thanks to its milestone year, her casting couldn’t come at a better time.
Hannah, 48, is the daughter of actors Dennis Waterman and Patricia Maynard and has always maintained a strong connection to her roots in British television. Fans are now speculating whether her soap return could eventually lead to an EastEnders comeback, perhaps in flashback scenes or a cameo.
