Michelle Claire Ryan (born 22 April 1984) is an English actress, best known for playing the role of Zoe Slater on the popular BBC1 Soap Opera EastEnders.
According to Wikipedia, Michelle Ryan was born in Enfield, Middlesex. A member of a local theatre group since she was 10, Ryan was picked for her role in EastEnders when she was 15 and first appeared on the show in September 2000. In 2005 she announced[citation needed] she was leaving EastEnders to concentrate on work in theatre and films.
In summer 2005, Ryan appeared in the play Who's the Daddy? at the King's Head Theatre. The play by Toby Young and Lloyd Evans is based on the David Blunkett paternity case.
Since leaving Eastenders Ryan has appeared in an episode of Marple which screened in February 2006, the independent film Cashback, and Jekyll for the BBC, a modern day version of Dr Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, starring James Nesbitt.
According to the British newspaper The Sun, Ryan auditioned to replace Billie Piper as the Doctor's companion in Doctor Who; however Freema Agyeman was ultimately chosen for the role. In spring 2007, Ryan was seen in a new adaptation of Mansfield Park opposite Billie Piper for the ITV network and as Lila in the film I Want Candy co-starring Carmen Electra and Mackenzie Crook.
In February 2007, it was announced that Ryan had been cast as the lead in the new drama pilot Bionic Woman. Producers say the series will be a "re-imagination" of the 1970s series of the same name. It was confirmed on May 14, 2007 that the show had been picked up for the 2007-08 season.
On Red Nose Day 2007, Ryan appeared in a brand new Mr. Bean sketch written and recorded for Comic Relief. She also appeared in Flick a 2007 Welsh independent film co-starring Faye Dunaway and Leslie Phillips.
In May 2007, Ryan mentioned in an interview that she had auditioned for the role of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale eventually given to Eva Green the previous year.
Triviat
Ryan has been among FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in 2002, 2004, 2005 (fourth, her highest ranking), and 2007.
Her favourite film is The Last of the Mohicans.
She is 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) tall.
