Michelle Ryan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michelle Ryan
Ryan in 2009
Born	Michelle Claire Ryan (1984-04-22) 22 April 1984 (age 41) Enfield, North London, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1999–present
Known for	Role of Zoe Slater in EastEnders (2000–2005, 2025–present)

Michelle Claire Ryan (born 22 April 1984) is an English actress. She is well-known for playing Zoe Slater in the BBC TV show EastEnders. She was on the show from 2000 to 2005 and returned in 2025. Michelle also starred in the American TV series Bionic Woman in 2007. She played the sorceress Nimueh in the BBC fantasy series Merlin in 2008. In 2009, she appeared as Lady Christina de Souza in the Doctor Who episode "Planet of the Dead". She has played this role again in audio stories since 2017.

Early Life and School

Michelle Claire Ryan was born in Enfield, London, on 22 April 1984. She went to Chace Community School. From the age of 10, she was part of a local theatre group. This helped her start her acting journey.

Michelle Ryan's Acting Career

Early Roles and EastEnders

Michelle Ryan was chosen to play Zoe Slater in the BBC soap opera EastEnders when she was 15. Her first appearance was in September 2000 with the Slater family. A big storyline for her character was finding out that Kat Slater was her mother, not her sister. She was also involved in hiding the murder of Den Watts. Michelle left EastEnders in June 2005.

After leaving EastEnders, Michelle acted in a play called Who's the Daddy? She also had a small part in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple in 2006. That same year, she appeared in an independent film called Cashback.

Bionic Woman and Other Projects

In 2007, Michelle Ryan played Maria in Mansfield Park for ITV. She also appeared as Lila in the film I Want Candy.

In February 2007, it was announced that Michelle would star in Bionic Woman. This show was a remake of a 1970s series. It started airing in the United States in September 2007. For her role as Jaime Sommers, Michelle used an American accent. She had professional dance training, which helped her with the show's physical stunts. She also learned Krav Maga and sign language for the part. Michelle said the show ended because its direction kept changing.

In May 2007, Michelle shared that she had auditioned for a role in the James Bond film Casino Royale. Later in 2007, she appeared in Flick, a Welsh independent film. Before Bionic Woman, she was in Jekyll for the BBC. This was a modern version of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Fantasy Roles and Doctor Who

Michelle Ryan played the sorceress Nimueh in the BBC drama series Merlin. She appeared in several episodes of the first season.

In January 2009, the BBC announced Michelle was cast as Lady Christina de Souza in the Doctor Who special episode "Planet of the Dead". This episode was shown on 11 April 2009. She has said she is open to playing the role again in the future.

In 2009, Michelle also filmed 4.3.2.1., a crime thriller. She starred in a play called The Talented Mr. Ripley in Northampton until October 2010. In 2010, she finished filming the thriller Cleanskin. She also appeared in the comedy film Huge. In 2011, Michelle played Helena from A Midsummer Night's Dream for a BBC Learning project.

Recent Work and EastEnders Return

Michelle Ryan appeared in Cockneys vs Zombies, a comedy horror film about bank robbers fighting zombies. The film was released in September 2012.

In late 2012, Michelle toured with Will Young in a production of Cabaret. This show also played in London's West End.

In 2018, Michelle began playing Lady Christina again in her own Big Finish Productions audio drama series. This series is a spin-off from Doctor Who.

Michelle had been asked to return to EastEnders many times over twenty years but had always said no. However, in May 2025, it was announced that she would return as Zoe Slater later that year. She made a surprise return in the episode shown on 16 June 2025.

Other Activities and Interests

Michelle Ryan supports children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. She is also active with The Big Cat Sanctuary, an animal charity that helps with global conservation. She supports The Total Green School Awards, which encourages environmental education in schools.

Film and Television Roles

Michelle Ryan has appeared in many TV shows and films. Here are some of her notable roles:

Television Appearances

Film Appearances

Audio Dramas

Awards and Nominations

Michelle Ryan has been recognized for her acting.

See also

In Spanish: Michelle Ryan para niños