Rachel Kominski

Name: Rachel Kominski
First Appeared: 19th March 1991
Last Appeared: 4th March 1993
Played by: Jacquetta May

Rachel Kominski made her mark on Albert Square with a blend of independence and a knack for finding herself in the middle of drama. Owning the house at 55 Victoria Road, Rachel initially befriended Michelle Fowler and considered her as a lodger. However, upon discovering Michelle had a young daughter, she rented the room to singer Karen instead. Befriending Michelle’s uncle Pete Beale led to some misunderstandings – Pete mistook her friendly invitation for a date and was stood up, only for Rachel to apologize and lend her support when his flat was trashed. Ever resourceful, Rachel even helped Michelle retrieve withheld wages from a dodgy timeshare company.

Rachel’s past came knocking when her ex-boyfriend, Russell Nash, showed up thanks to an unintentional hire to put up some shelves. Russell’s attempts to rekindle their romance were swiftly shut down by Rachel, who hated their three years together. Karen’s loud music and her boyfriend Clyde Tavernier’s frequent presence soon became too much, but just as Rachel was about to confront her, Karen announced her move to Manchester. This paved the way for Michelle to finally become Rachel’s lodger. Rachel saw potential in Michelle, encouraging her to apply to college. She also dated Michelle’s brother, Mark Fowler, supporting him through the revelation of his HIV-positive status to their parents. The drama escalated when Rachel helped Michelle hide Clyde, who was on the run from the police.

Rachel’s supportive nature extended to Kathy Beale, especially when Kathy’s rapist, James Wilmott-Brown, threatened to return. She stood by Kathy through emotionally charged meetings and unsettling cassette tapes from Wilmott-Brown. However, her relationship with Mark deteriorated, leading to their breakup. Financial pressures mounted when one of her university courses was dropped, and her parents stopped supporting her mortgage payments. With her mother spilling secrets during a visit and more courses being cut, Rachel found work at the Bridge Street café and ran a bric-a-brac stall, where she met the charming yet dubious market inspector, Richard Cole. After a brief fling, Richard turned his attention to Kathy, eventually giving Rachel’s market pitch to Sanjay Kapoor.

Rachel’s exit from Walford came when she received a job offer at a publishing house in Leeds, marking the end of her eventful stint in the Square.