Michelle Ryan has reportedly turned down multiple advances to reprise her role as Zoe Slater on EastEnders.
The actress shot to stardom when she joined the soap as part of the newly-introduced Slater clan in 2000 and was part of the iconic "you ain't my muvva" scene which revealed that Zoe was in fact the daughter of Kat (Jessie Wallace) rather than her sister.
Many past characters came back to EastEnders for cameo roles or longer stints to mark the show's 40th anniversary, including David Wicks (Michael French), Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) and Angie Watts (Anita Dobson), but according to the Daily Mail, attempts to convince Ryan to return after 20 years have fallen flat.
"Bosses reached out to Michelle several times over the years, they would love to have her back," a source told the newspaper. "For example, as the soap was approaching its big 30th anniversary [in 2015], it was a gentle approach asking if she would consider a return in the lead up to it all.
"This was at the very early stages of their plans but Michelle refused and there was a lot of disappointment amongst bosses.
"It's always been quite baffling why she wouldn't want to reprise a character who is still very much adored by the fans. It's been 20 years since she left Albert Square but still people are talking about her character."
Ryan will next be seen on the big screen in the coming-of-age music drama Finding My Voice.
Neil Wilkes
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