EastEnders Fans Shocked as Iconic Star Pops Up in Surprising Australian TV Ad!
It’s the kind of twist that would make even the most seasoned EastEnders scriptwriter raise an eyebrow: one minute you’re watching a perfectly ordinary Australian TV ad, the next you’re doing a double take, spluttering into your tea, and scrambling for the remote. Is that… Laura Beale? Is that Hannah Waterman, the woman whose Albert Square exit left an entire nation reeling, now cheerfully flogging KenoGo on Aussie telly? For EastEnders fans, it was a surreal moment – a jolt of nostalgia with a dash of disbelief, a soap opera ghost popping up on the other side of the world, smiling out from the screen as if she’d never been away.
But yes, it’s true. More than two decades after her dramatic demise at the hands of a staircase in Walford, Hannah Waterman has resurfaced in the most unexpected of places: an Australian TV ad for a casino game, beaming out to millions of viewers Down Under. And while some fans might have lost track of her since she left the Square in 2004, for others, the sight of that familiar face was enough to set social media ablaze.
“So I’m living in Australia currently and this advert keeps popping up on the TV and now social media. Is it Laura Beale’s actress Hannah Waterman?” one eagle-eyed fan wrote online, their disbelief echoed by dozens more. “Yeah looks like it, and I read somewhere that she moved to Australia a few years ago,” came the reply, quickly followed by another: “Yeah Hannah Waterman has lived in Australia for years. She was in Home and Away recently.”
It’s the stuff of soap legend: the actress who once played one of Walford’s most memorable characters now living a new life on the other side of the world, popping up in TV ads and even landing a role in the iconic Aussie soap Home and Away. For those who remember her as Laura Beale – the long-suffering wife of Ian, the woman who welcomed Bobby into the world and then met a tragic end at the bottom of a staircase – it’s a reminder of just how far, and how unexpectedly, life can take us.
Hannah Waterman’s journey from Albert Square to the sun-drenched beaches of Australia is a story worthy of its own soap opera. Born into acting royalty as the daughter of the late, great Dennis Waterman – best known for his roles in Minder and The Sweeney – Hannah seemed destined for the stage and screen. But it was her turn as Laura Beale in EastEnders that made her a household name, her performances packed with the kind of raw emotion and quiet dignity that made her character’s fate all the more heartbreaking.
Laura’s time in Walford was never short on drama. She arrived in 2000, quickly becoming Ian Beale’s third wife and a central figure in the tangled web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that has always defined life in the Square. Her marriage to Ian was a masterclass in soap misery – fraught with infidelity, misunderstandings, and the kind of emotional turbulence that only EastEnders can deliver. When Laura gave birth to Bobby in 2003, she believed her lover Garry Hobbs was the father, convinced that Ian’s vasectomy had rendered him infertile. But in true soap fashion, the truth eventually came out: Ian was Bobby’s biological dad all along, a revelation that set the stage for one of the show’s most memorable storylines.
But it was Laura’s exit that truly cemented her place in EastEnders history. After discovering Ian’s affair with Janine Butcher – the Square’s resident schemer – Laura confronted her rival in a scene packed with tension and heartbreak. The confrontation ended in tragedy, with Laura fatally tripping down the stairs, her life cut short in a moment that left viewers stunned and the Beale family shattered. It was a classic EastEnders send-off: shocking, poignant, and utterly unforgettable.
For many, that was the last they saw of Hannah Waterman. After her exit from the Square, she appeared in a string of roles in the UK, including a memorable turn in Doctors in 2013. But then, as so often happens in the world of showbiz, she seemed to vanish from British screens, her absence leaving a Laura-shaped hole in the hearts of EastEnders fans.
But life, as ever, had other plans. Several years ago, Hannah made the bold decision to leave the UK behind and start a new chapter in Australia. It was a move that surprised many – but for Hannah, it was a chance to escape the shadow of her famous father, to carve out her own identity, and to embrace the opportunities offered by a new country and a new industry.
And it’s clear that Australia has welcomed her with open arms. Not only has she made a home Down Under, but she’s also continued to do what she does best: act. In late 2023, it was announced that Hannah had signed up to play a magistrate in Home and Away, joining the ranks of British stars who have found a second home on Australia’s most beloved soap. It was a fitting return to form for an actress who has always brought a touch of class and authenticity to every role she’s played.
But it was her appearance in the KenoGo ad that really set tongues wagging. There she was, smiling and relaxed, a world away from the turmoil of Albert Square, selling the dream of a big win to Australian audiences. For fans used to seeing her caught up in the never-ending drama of Walford, it was a surreal sight – but also a heartwarming one. Here was proof that life goes on, that actors can reinvent themselves, and that sometimes, the most unexpected gigs can bring the greatest joy.
Of course, the internet wasted no time in reacting. Screenshots of the ad quickly circulated on social media, with fans sharing their disbelief and delight at seeing Laura Beale alive and well, if not in Walford, then at least on Aussie TV. “I never thought I’d see the day,” one fan wrote, while another joked, “She survived the stairs, moved to Australia, and now she’s selling Keno! What a comeback!”
It’s easy to forget just how much of an impact Hannah Waterman had during her time on EastEnders. Laura Beale was never the showiest character, but she was one of the most relatable – a woman trying to do her best in impossible circumstances, battered by life but never completely broken. Her storylines touched on issues of motherhood, betrayal, and resilience, and her tragic end remains one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s long history.
For Hannah, the move to Australia has clearly been a success. She’s found a new audience, carved out a fresh identity, and proved that there’s life after Walford – even if it involves the odd TV ad for a casino game. And for fans, her unexpected reappearance is a reminder of just how much the world of soap can surprise us, both on and off the screen.
There’s a certain poetry to the whole thing. In EastEnders, Laura Beale was defined by her struggles, her heartbreaks, and her ultimate, tragic end. In real life, Hannah Waterman has shown that it’s possible to start again, to find happiness in unexpected places, and to embrace the opportunities that come your way – even if it means selling Keno tickets to a nation of hopeful punters.
As for what’s next? If her recent stint on Home and Away is anything to go by, Hannah Waterman is far from finished. She’s a reminder that talent endures, that reinvention is always possible, and that sometimes, the most surprising twists are the ones that happen off-screen.
So the next time you’re flicking through the channels in Australia and catch a glimpse of a familiar face, don’t be too surprised. After all, in the world of soap – and in life – anything can happen. And as Hannah Waterman has proved, sometimes the best stories are the ones you never see coming.
For EastEnders fans, her unexpected return to the spotlight is a gift: a chance to remember the glory days of Walford, to celebrate the enduring appeal of one of the show’s most beloved stars, and to marvel at the strange, wonderful journey that has taken her from the cobbles of Albert Square to the sunlit shores of Australia. In a world that so often feels small and predictable, Hannah Waterman’s story is a reminder that life can still surprise us – and that sometimes, the best is yet to come.
