Zsa Zsa Carter

Name: Zsa Zsa Carter
First Appeared: 5th January 2010
Last Appeared: 30th September 2010
Played by: Emer Kenny

Zsa Zsa Carter was the definition of a whirlwind when she arrived in Albert Square. Her entrance was anything but subtle – jumping the barriers at the tube station, making up a sob story to shoplift from Whitney Dean, and quickly getting involved in the drama. She overheard Lauren Branning breaking up with Peter Beale and took the chance to chat up Peter outside. This led to a wild party at 89B George Street, organized by Lucy Beale, where Zsa Zsa ended up in a fight, throwing punches and punch in equal measure. She left with a cut on her forehead and Peter’s keys, setting the tone for her chaotic time in Walford.

Zsa Zsa’s story continued in EastEnders: E20, where her troubled home life came to light. Running from her stepfather Andy, she found temporary refuge with Leon Small and his friends Fatboy and Mercy Olubunmi. Their impromptu squat in Peter’s flat became her new home base. Zsa Zsa’s father was dead, and her mother, Tina Carter, had run off to Spain with a man named Miguel. In classic Zsa Zsa style, she and Leon grew close and ended up having sex in a cemetery. Things got complicated when Fatboy mistakenly told her that Leon was the father of Mercy’s unborn baby. This led to Zsa Zsa throwing everyone’s belongings out of the window in a fit of rage.

Back in Walford, Zsa Zsa continued her unpredictable ways. She ran away from Fatboy’s house but ended up crashing at Shirley’s flat. Shirley, trying to provide some stability, attempted to get Zsa Zsa into a local school with Phil Mitchell’s help. Although initially reluctant, Zsa Zsa warmed up to the idea, especially after meeting the headmaster, Mr. Allcock. Her friendship with Whitney Dean blossomed, and she even gave Whitney relationship advice. Despite a tempting offer to join her mother in Spain, Zsa Zsa decided to stay, proving herself useful by babysitting and tearing up the letter from Tina.

Romance with Leon took several rollercoaster turns. Zsa Zsa received gifts from an unknown admirer, “The Blue Masquerader,” who was eventually revealed to be Peter. After discovering Leon had gotten Lucy pregnant, Zsa Zsa broke things off, but Fatboy’s attempts to reunite them led to more chaos. They almost got back together until Leon kissed Whitney without permission. Zsa Zsa’s attempt to get revenge on Leon during a trip to Hampshire ended with him going missing, but he later turned up after a night in police custody. Back in Walford, they uncovered the body of Owen Turner in the Square’s gardens, adding another layer of horror to their lives.

As her life in Walford became increasingly unstable, Zsa Zsa found herself homeless when Phil ejected her and Shirley. After a failed attempt at squatting, she moved in with Mercy and started working in the café. Her tumultuous relationship with Leon took a final blow when she discovered he had slept with Glenda Mitchell. In a dramatic exit, she threw him out of Fatboy’s van in his underwear, said goodbye to Shirley, and left Walford for France.