EastEnders’ Michelle Ryan hints at ‘complex’ future for Zoe and Kat
The 41-year-old actress returned to her role as Zoe back in June following a two-decade absence from Albert Square. Whilst she crossed paths with Stacey (Lacey Turner) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), Zoe initially avoided a reunion with her estranged mother, Kat (Jessie Wallace).
Viewers were therefore thrilled when the duo finally came face-to-face last week after Tommy (Sonny Kendall) deceived Zoe into coming back to Walford.
But the family get-together quickly turned sinister when Zoe was accidentally shot during a scuffle between Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) outside the Queen Vic.
Since the incident, Kat has remained at her daughter’s hospital bedside, despite ongoing friction between them, reports Plymouth Live.
Michelle Ryan reprised her role as Zoe Slater in June(Image: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
Speaking on the red carpet at the National Television Awards on Wednesday (September 10), Michelle discussed Zoe and Kat’s complicated bond, and dropped hints about potential future storylines.
“I think it’s like terms of endearment, it’s a very complex and difficult relationship but they ultimately adore each other and I think that mother-daughter relationship is what people tend to relate to,” she revealed.
In the aftermath of the shooting incident, it emerged that Zoe had been secretly involved with Max Branning (Jake Wood), after the pair encountered each other earlier this year and sparked a romance.
Through a series of flashbacks, viewers witnessed Max providing Zoe with funds to track down information about the son she had put up for adoption.
Kat Slater has been trying to bond with her daughter(Image: BBC)
Speaking at the NTAs, Michelle confessed she wasn’t surprised to discover Max’s link to Zoe, explaining: “I didn’t watch the show so I wasn’t aware of the profile that he had.”
This week saw Zoe beginning to open up to Kat about her time away from Walford, though certain details remain off-limits for discussion.
“I just didn’t know who I was. Drinking all the time, a ton of drugs. Just one big messy fog for years,” she recalled.
“Then I found out I was pregnant. I was sleeping on people’s sofas, didn’t have a steady job. Chaos. It was all just chaos. Never could have been a mum.”
When Kat attempted to probe further about the pregnancy and the father’s identity, Zoe swiftly shut down the conversation, stating: “I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it. Anything else, but not that.”