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Michelle Ryan has broken her silence on being killed off EastEnders, revealing that her character's death 'seemed like a natural conclusion'.
The actress, 42, returned to the BBC soap as Zoe Slater last June after a 20-year absence but she has already filmed her final scenes, which will air later this month.
It follows some fan backlash over her return, with her highly-anticipated comeback branded 'flat and lacklustre'.
And speaking in a new interview, Michelle opened up about her upcoming exit from the soap, noting that a short stint in Albert Square was always on the cards despite speculation otherwise.
She told Radio Times: '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.'
Michelle Ryan has broken her silence on being killed off EastEnders, revealing that her character's death 'seemed like a natural conclusion'
The actress, 42, returned to the BBC soap as Zoe Slater [pictured] last June after a 20-year absence but she has already filmed her final scenes, which will air later this month
The actress went on to say that it had been such a 'gift' to be reunited with her former pals including onscreen mum Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon), Shane Ritchie (Alfie Moon) and Laila Morse (Mo Harris).
Michelle also took the opportunity to quash rumours of bad blood between her and executive producer Ben Wadey amid his decision to have her character written off.
Michelle insisted that she 'loved' working with Ben and told how she would love to work with him once again at some point because he's 'such a good boss'.
Emphasising that the pair are indeed on good terms, she continued: ' I’m not somebody who's just going to talk bulls**t, 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.'
Meanwhile, the soap star discussed Zoe's heart-breaking death, with her departure full of nostalgia as it's very similar to how she first made her arrival 26 years ago.
The character initially made her entrance by crashing her biological grandfather/adoptive father Charlie Slater's black cab, and in upcoming scenes in which Michelle describes as a 'full circle' moment, Zoe will steal that very same cab after discovering that it's up for sale.
However, the action leads to Zoe hitting her head, with the blow ultimately leading to her death, and it's mother Kat who will discover Zoe dead in her bed.
Michelle noted that the filming of her final scenes were so sad that show legend Laila had to leave the set as she was 'getting emotional', while Jessie also got upset.
The TV star went on to say that she understands that no character is 'bigger than the show' and expressed her wish that fans may 'find solace' in the fact that the Slaters will continue with some 'really good storylines' because of Zoe's comeback.
It was announced back in July that Michelle was axed from EastEnders permanently just 12 months after she made her grand comeback.
A source told the Daily Mail: 'Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time.
'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'
'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' [pictured with Jessie Wallace]
Meanwhile, the soap star discussed Zoe's heart-breaking death, with her departure full of nostalgia as it's very similar to how she first made her arrival 26 years ago
'With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet.'
While fans had been delighted to hear of her return last year, and somewhat surprised seeing as she famously called the job 'boring', it's said her grand comeback was ultimately a disappointment.
'Michelle's long-awaited return has been somewhat flat and lacklustre,' a source told The Sun on Sunday.
'There's been a backlash about her comeback, leaving some fans disappointed with her on-screen presence.
'There has been some disappointment backstage that the return was short-lived as everyone loved the Zoe Slater's historic moments.'
Michelle quit the soap in 2005 for Hollywood after landing the lead in the Bionic Woman remake.
When she first left Albert Square, the door was kept open for her return, with her character Zoe moving to Ibiza rather than being the victim of one of the soap's gruesome murder plots.
Yet Michelle made it clear she had no intention of coming back, declaring she had found the role 'boring' and stating: 'I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship. I always wanted to go on and do different things.'
Meanwhile, a 'close friend' of hers was quoted telling Sunday People at the time: 'Without sounding arrogant, Michelle believes she has the looks and talent to succeed at the highest level.
'She has been in EastEnders for four years but sees her future very much in films and modelling. She realises the show has put her on the map but doesn't want to be typecast.
'Because of her soap commitments she's had to turn down dozens of great modelling offers and feels her soap role is now holding her back.'
However, just as she seemed destined for global stardom, Michelle's show Bionic Woman was a victim of the three-month Writers Guild of America strike – which saw production grind to a halt after just eight episodes had been filmed.
Ultimately, the remaining five episodes planned for the series were not filmed, and after low ratings on the ones that aired, NBC quietly shelved the show.
Michelle returned to the UK and landed the role of villainous Nimueh in the first series of BBC fantasy Merlin, and guest starred in Doctor Who Special Planet Of The Dead in 2009, a character many fans hoped could become a future companion.
She then had a chance to return to Hollywood, being asked to audition for Boardwalk Empire, but remarkably she turned the opportunity down because she didn't want to be roped into a lengthy contract with HBO.
The role was ultimately snapped up by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald.
Michelle later confessed that she'd made a 'big mistake', with the series going on to earn multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG awards.
The last few years saw Michelle star in several independent films, including Cockneys v Zombies, where she starred alongside The Crown's Harry Treadaway, and ensemble comedy Girl Walks into a Bar, with Danny DeVito.
English (US) ·