In the Press
December
Soaplife issue 17
Fool for Love
They say that love is blind, but in Lynne Slater's case, it's downright stupid. Her fella Garry's so much of a bad egg that he may as well have love cheat tattooed on his forehead. Yet foolish Lynne thinks that he's the bee's knees...
Her sister Kat, however, doesn't suffer fools gladly. So when Garry tells Lynne that Kat's been coming on to him, Kat thinks it's time to tell the truth.
"There's a massive argument between them because Lynne believes Garry," reveals actress Elaine Lordan, who plays her. " She enters the Queen Vic and passes Kat, who's storming out. When she asks Garry what happened, that's when he tells her."
Kat has always hidden Garry's philandering lifestyle from he big sister, knowing that the news would completely devastate her. Now, though, she decided that enough is enough.
"Kat's been loyal to her sister, but Lynne doesn't see it like that. She'd rather believe Garry. The trouble is, if she accepted it as the truth, she'd have to end the relationship and that's the last thing she wants. She's in her thirties and thinks that Garry is her last chance for settling down. She can't bear the thought of being left on the shelf," says the 34 - year old actress.
Elaine's the first to agree that Lynne's being a fool: "She's a bit dim as far as Garry is concerned, which is odd as she's not stupid," she says. "The problem stems from her not having much self-esteem where blokes are concerned. She's one of those women that has to have a boyfriend in her life, and she thinks that Garry is all she deserves.
"Deep down she knows he's wrong for her, but she just doesn't want to admit it. All she wants is to be married with a couple of kids."
It's not the first time Elaine has enjoyed a screen relationship that's been the talk of the town. At 16, she played Tucker Jenkins' girlfriend in Tucker's Luck, which starred Eastenders actor Todd Carty.
"People still recognise me from the show," she says. "I hated the attention and, when people came up to me, I'd pretend I was someone else. I love it now though.
"It does feel a bit strange. I recently went to an awards ceremony and people started screaming my name as I walked up the red carpet. They were saying 'touch me' and begging me for autographs!
"I still can't believe I'm in Eastenders. I was a huge fan before I got the part of Lynne and it feels so odd walking around Albert Square."
Elaine's had scores of letters from fans of Eastenders giving her advice on her love life, and thanking her for finally putting surly Janine Butcher in her place.
"Lots of women have written to tell Lynne to dump Garry," she says, "And people love it when Lynne bosses Janine around. It's funny because I've become good friends with Charlie Brooks, who plays her. She's a brilliant actress - and she's nothing at all like Janine in real life. Just as well really..."
All about Soap issue 12
Leg it!
She may look a million dollars, but Michelle Ryan, who plays Eastenders Zoe Slater, says she used to spend all of her time in leg warmers!
"I was about 12 at the time and I used to dance a lot so that's my excuse," she smiles, "I've actually heard they're back in fashion so I'm thinking of digging them out again!"
It's amazing the secrets some people keep. See for yourself as Eastenders' Michelle Ryan (AKA Zoe Slater) confesses all. "I remember once my brother and I were having a pillow fight and we knocked over our mum's favourite china plant pot! The soil went everywhere, but we managed to clean it up so mum was none the wiser. We even glued back on a tiny bit of the pot that we broke off. Mum still doesn't know it happened to this day!" She does now!
TVQuick Issue 50
Oh, Mo!
The Slater girls are an open book when it comes to love - except Little Mo. Kat's been chasing Steve, Lynne's seeing Garry, who's also got his eye on Kat, and Zoe fancies Jamie. But Little Mo, who is married to Trevor, doesn't say much about her husband.
However, when Billy takes an interest in her, she tells him about Trevor and hints that he's not very easy-going.
This week Garry moves in with Mark and they have a house warming. Billy goes with Little Mo and they get on well.
On Tuesday, Trevor returns home from a trip. Kat tells her sister to dress up nicely for him. But when the doorbell goes later, Kay and Charlie open the door to find Little Mo covered in bruises.
The family quiz her about what happened, sensing that Trevor is responsible for her injuries. But she tells everyone she's had an accident. However, the truth later emerges and the Slaters are furious to learn that Trevor hit Little Mo after accusing her of looking like a tart. When Billy hears what happened, he wants to sort Trevor out. But they discover that Trevor has trashed the house and done a runner.
"Little Mo loves Trevor and she can't see his faults," says Kacey Ainsworth, who plays her. "She'll defend him to the ends of the earth and really wants to make the marriage work. But she's intimidated by him. He has a hold over her. She's lost her confidence and is becoming isolated from her family and friends."
Inside Soap issue 168
Mo's Woes
If the past few months are anything to go by, little Mo is certainly the quietest member of the Slater family. While her feisty sisters like nothing than painting the town red, Little Mo would rather stay home with a cup of cocoa, and is as meek as a mouse.
However, this fortnight her sisters manage to coax her out of her shell to go to the house warming party thrown by Garry Hobbs and Mark Fowler. While at the party, the positive attention she receives from the locals - including smitten Billy Mitchell - gives her the confidence to follow her sister Kat's advice and welcome her long distance lorry driver husband, Trevor, home by getting glammed up.
But it looks as if Mo's plan has gone horribly wrong when she turns up at the Slater house later that night - covered in bruises. She quickly covers up for her injuries, claiming that she had an accident, but the Slaters, and Billy, are quick to realise that Trevor is responsible.
"Little Mo loves Trevor so much that she just can't see his faults,' explains Kacey Ainsworth, who plays the abused wife. "And she desperately wants to make her marriage work. Trevor is handsome and charming, but he's also very possessive. He confuses Little Mo, plays with her emotions and exploits her vulnerability."
It soon becomes clear that Little Mo has been the victim of domestic violence, after Trevor accused her of looking like a tart because of her make-over.
"Up until now, Trevor's abuse has been more along the lines of emotional intimidation," explains Kacey. "So no one had any idea of what was going n, because there were never any bruises. But that's been almost as damaging as the violence she's now suffering. Trevor's ground her down- she's slowly lost her confidence and become isolated from her family and friends. He has a real hold over her, which is why she doesn't tell anyone the truth."
Despite Little Mo's protests, the Slaters soon turn up en-masse, ready to teach him a lesson. However, they discover that he's trashed the house and left the scene. While the Slaters are hell bent on revenge, Billy Mitchell is also quick to lend Little Mo his support, and is desperate to hand out his own brand of justice.
"Billy has become very protective of Little Mo," says Kacey. "not that she has noticed! She doesn't see his behaviour as anything other than just friendly, even though it's completely obvious to everyone else in the Square how keen he is on her. As far as she's concerned, he seems like a gentle bloke who loves his goldfish, and she enjoys his company. Just having any attention paid to her is enough to flatter her."
It remains to be seen whether Trevor gets his comeuppance, and whether Little Mo and Billy's relationship develops any further, but whatever the future holds, it seems that Eastenders fans have already warmed to Kacey's gentle character.
"I get recognised quite a lot, and the fans have already sent me loads of things," beams Kacey. "I also get lots of sympathetic letters, from people saying they have 'Little Mo' days. It's lovely - the public really seems to have taken her to it's heart."
All About Soap Issue 16
Teenage Kicks
Life in Walford will never be dull - not with Zoe around. There's no doubt that she reigns supreme as the biggest minx in Walford, but is there more to Zoe Slater than meets the eye? Wee, Michelle Ryan, who plays the feisty dark-haired beauty, reckons there just might be!
"Zoe is basically a typical teenager," smiles Michelle. "She just loves life and enjoys having fun, even if it means getting into trouble every now and again! but she isn't really bad, not like Brookie's Emily Shadwick. And Zoe has her head screwed on, so I don't think she will ever go completely off the rails. She is a really nice girl deep down and she's working very hard now she has a job at the market. Part of the way Zoe acts is down to having older sisters. She sees them all going out and having a laugh, and she wants to have the same sort of lifestyle."
With a best mate like Kerry, Zoe is certainly getting plenty of encouragement to go out and have a wild time. "Kerry is her partner in crime and Zoe just lets herself get carried away when she is around," continues Michelle. "Most of the naughty stuff they end up doing is Kerry's idea - it's not really Zoe's fault!" We've seen what the two girls can get up to in the confines of Walford, so the fact that this month they plan a holiday together hardly bears thinking about!
"Kerry wants to get Zoe out of Walford and away from Jamie because she knows that he's not really interested," explains Michelle. "She wants Zoe to find herself a new holiday romance to take her mind off things back home!"
But knowing what his young daughter can be like, will Zoe's dad Charlie allow her to go? "I'm not sure that he will be too keen on letting the girls go away on holiday alone," grins Michelle. "But they're not planning on telling the absolute truth so, who knows?! Being his youngest daughter, she can usually wrap him around her little finger. We'll just have to see if she can work her magic on this one!"
And how is Michelle coping with her new found fame since starting on Eastenders? "It's a bit strange, because it's literally happened overnight," she explains. "now I get asked for autographs all the time, especially when I'm in the supermarket. I even tried to go out in disguise the other day to do my Christmas shopping, I had a hat pulled down really far, but people still recognised me!" The trials of being a soap star, eh?!
December 9th
Soaplife issue 18
5 things I couldn't live without...
Zoe Slater made an instant impact in Walford when she drove her dad's cab into Mark Fowler's stall. Actress Michelle Ryan's a lot smarter though...
1 - Tom Hanks
Michelle landed the role of Zoe after leaving school and, although she loves working on the show, she has her sights set further afield than Walford. "One of my favourite actors is Tom Hanks. I admire his work and I love his films, especially Forrest Gump, which is my favourite. I'd love to work with him. I also like Robert De Niro and Julia Roberts, but Tom Hanks is my all time favourite."
2 - The Corrs Unplugged CD
Michelle likes to relax whenever possible and there's one CD she always says helps. "My favourite CD is The Corrs Unplugged," she says. "I love music... It's easy-listening and it always puts me in a good mood. If I'm relaxing, they're always my first choice. Other music I like includes most modern pop, garage and classical. I also like film and musical soundtracks, too."
3 - Braveheart
"I think it's such a brilliant film - even though it has a sad ending which always brings a lump to my throat. I also really admire Mel Gibson for acting in it and also directing it. It must have been such hard work." Would Michelle want to work with Mel too? "I'd love to do a period or historical drama one day. But at the moment, I'm happy in Eastenders - its a dream for me and I learn so much every day."
4 - My Chainmail Top
"I bought a gold chainmail-look top from Warehouse. It's so funky and I wear it whenever I go to parties or award ceremonies," says Michelle, who admits she finds such events a bit scary. "I went to the National TV Awards and that was quite daunting because there were lots of photographers and fans. It's something you dream of when you're little but it was so surreal. I found it quite nerve-racking."
5 - The Royle Family
"I just can't get enough of The Royle Family. I think it's just lush - the acting's so amazing and it's just a brilliant idea. When it's on I'll always be sitting at home watching it. I like all the characters, really - Jim, Barbara, Denise, Dave and Nana - but my favourite of the lot is Anthony, who's played by Ralph Little. I just love the way he always gets lumbered making the tea!"
The Sunday Mirror - Interview with Kacey Ainsworth
The
most famous battered wife in Britain leans back in her chair in
Kacey
Ainsworth is kidding, of course, but domestic violence is no
"You
look terrible"
Filming
the storyline has put a strain both on Kacey, 28, and her
If
EastEnders' scriptwriters should ever find the cupboard bare, an adaptation
of the real-life love story of Kacey the actress and
The
rift lasted for 10 years, then Kacey got engaged to the actor
"We
were about to get married when I met Darren in a nightclub. I
They've
been together for two years now, living near St Albans,
"I
had no fear at all"
Kacey
- named after a character in the 1960s soap opera Peyton Place - started
in showbusiness by accident. "My mum sent me and my sister
"I
was seven, I had no fear at all and I got taken on. They didn't
She
says she owes her sense of adventure to her dad Ted, a larger-
The
mousey one in the middle
She's
proud to have such a dramatic storyline within three months,
People
don't talk to neighbours any more, or speak to one another in
It
hasn't all been doom and gloom. When Kacey first knew she had
The
impact of becoming a household name and face was
