The soap opera legend looks unrecognizable 27 years after leaving EastEnders for a new career. Can you guess who it is?
- Susan Tully, is best known for playing Michelle Fowler on EastEnders for 10 years.
- Her EastEnders on-screen persona became pregnant at the age of 16 by ‘Dirty Den’ Watts, giving birth to a daughter named Vicky.
- She has The Bill, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her directing resume.
- Susan became the first woman to direct Line Of Duty: she was appointed director for episode five and will oversee the gripping final episode six.
- Before her stint with EastEnders, Susan played Suzanne Ross on Grange Hill for four years, from 1981 to 1984.
- The actress even briefly returned to her old EastEnders home between 1989 and 1999 to direct 12 episodes.
Susan Tully, best known for playing Michelle Fowler on EastEnders, looks unrecognizable 27 years after leaving the soap for a new career.
After playing the daughter of Pauline Fowler for a decade, Susan, 55, is now a successful television director.
The actress began her directing career directing BBC series Funland and Silent Witness. She also has The Bill, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her resume.
Familiar face: Susan Tully, best known for playing Michelle Fowler on EastEnders, looks unrecognizable 27 years after leaving soap opera for a new career as a television director
Wow: Susan pictured as Michelle Fowler on the soap opera in 1986 – her character became pregnant at the age of 16 by ‘Dirty Den’ Watts, giving birth to a daughter named Vicky
She’s worked on Britannia, Tin Star, Jez Butterworth’s Musketeers and last year she became the first woman to direct Line Of Duty.
Susan was listed as the director for episode five and will oversee the gripping finale episode six.
Her EastEnders on-screen persona became pregnant at the age of 16 by ‘Dirty Den’ Watts, giving birth to a daughter named Vicky.
Den was the adoptive father of Michelle’s best friend, Sharon Mitchell, played by Letitia Dean.
Gripping: Susan became the first woman to direct Line Of Duty, (pictured) Susan was listed as director for episode five and will also oversee the gripping final episode six.
In the Past: Susan Tully (far right) pictured with Bill Treacher as Arthur Fowler, Wendy Richard as Pauline Fowler, Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale, Peter Dean as Pete Beale (back row) and Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale, Anna Wing as Lou Beale (front row)
Michelle later had a son Mark Jr, whom she had with Grant Mitchell.
The soap opera character missed family funerals, including those of his father Arthur, mother Pauline and brother Mark, with even Ian Beale’s name checking after his daughter Lucy died in 2014.
When Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, was revealed to be dying of cancer, Sharon called Michelle to inform her of the icon’s illness.
However, Michelle was too late to contact the landlady after a letter she sent to her arrived the day after she died, but Sharon read the letter and immediately paid her a visit.
On his return to Walford in August, Phil discovered the letter and discovered that Mark was his brother Grant’s son.
Susan briefly returned to her former home of EastEnders between 1989 and 1999 to direct 12 episodes.
Michelle’s character returned to Walford once more in 2016 for a year, but was played by Jenna Russell.
A source said at the time: “EastEnders have been trying to talk Susan back for over 20 years, but they agreed enough was enough and decided to recast the role.”
“They thought Jenna was a perfect fit and they think she’ll do a great job as Michelle, who is one of the most popular characters in the history of the series.”
“The show has faced accusations of being boring of late, but curveballs like this show it’s still keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.”
Before her stint with EastEnders, Susan played Suzanne Ross on Grange Hill for four years, from 1981 to 1984.
The actress even briefly returned to her old EastEnders home between 1989 and 1999 to direct 12 episodes.
Changing faces: Michelle’s character returned to Walford once more in 2016 for a year, but was played by Jenna Russell (left)
Impressive: Since her departure from EastEnders, Susan has carved out a successful directing career with the likes of The Bill, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her resume (pictured 1996)
Turning things around: Michelle, meanwhile, was involved in a number of major storylines during her ten years on the BBC1 soap, including having a baby with Den Watts