Laura Beale

Name: Laura Beale
First Appeared: 17th February 2000
Last Appeared: 30th April 2004
Played by: Hannah Waterman

Laura Beale’s journey in Albert Square was nothing short of a rollercoaster. She started as a nanny for Ian Beale’s children, gradually becoming attracted to the local businessman. Despite her loyalty and protectiveness, Ian only saw her as a convenience. When Laura demanded more commitment, Ian refused, leading her to kiss Garry Hobbs out of frustration. Furious, Ian initially pushed her away, but bankruptcy soon forced him to rely on her, and they became a couple. Laura, always resourceful, borrowed money from Ian’s ex-wife Mel Owen to buy a fish and chip shop. They got married despite her father’s disapproval, but Laura soon questioned Ian’s motives when she discovered he knew about her inheritance.

Jealousy reared its head when Ian went into business with Mel, leading to a series of conflicts. Laura caught them kissing and moved out, but Ian managed to win her back. When Mel was arrested for money laundering, she signed over her business to Laura, which only added fuel to the fire. Laura refused to return the business to Mel, leading to further tension. Eventually, Laura learned that Ian had been using Janine Butcher for extramarital affairs, which led to a heated confrontation. Ian promised a baby to reconcile with Laura, but he secretly underwent a vasectomy. Laura’s pregnancy led to a complex web of deceit, with Ian tricking her into signing over her business shares before throwing her out.

Laura’s life took another twist when she moved into a bedsit with Garry Hobbs, mistakenly believing him to be the father of her baby. She gave birth to Bobby Beale, but a blood transfusion revealed Garry wasn’t the father. Seeking stability for her son, Laura kept the truth from Garry. She managed Phil Mitchell’s café, renaming it “Laura’s,” until Phil’s sister sold it back to Ian, who promptly fired her. The couple’s divorce was finalized in February 2004, and Laura’s feud with Janine intensified. Their argument turned violent, culminating in Janine strangling Laura during a heated fight.

Tragically, Laura decided to reveal Bobby’s true paternity to Ian, but he rejected her. As she hurried to answer the door for him, she tripped and fell, breaking her neck. Found dead by Pat Evans, Laura’s demise led to Janine being charged with her murder, only to be cleared when Pat provided an alibi. Laura’s letter to Ian revealed the truth about Bobby’s parentage, leading Ian to take custody of his son, feeling guilty for his past actions.