Swansea actor's joy over landing role in Eastenders

YOU'RE 'avin a giraffe!

A young actor has landed a major role in BBC soap opera Eastenders.

Hetti Bywater, whose family hail from Hafod, is to play a regular role as wild child Lucy Beale in the hit drama series.

The 17-year-old, who has already started filming as the young character, is the latest actor to play the role of the daughter of Walford businessman Ian Beale.

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She replaces Melissa Suffield who played the role from 2004 to 2010.

Hetti has been represented by Swansea- based agent Mark Jermin Management since she was 12.

It has helped her find previous roles in other BBC dramas such as Casualty and Doctors.

Mark Jermin said: "We are over the moon to have a regular character in Eastenders and it's been exciting watching Hetti grow and develop as an actress over the years.

"We have always believed in her talent."

Hetti's character Lucy is due to return to the square after spending some time in Devon, and will be coming back to Walford after hearing some sad news.

Lucy Beale, the daughter of Cindy Beale, who was played by Michelle Collins, will return to our screens as a spoilt but ultimately insecure teen.

Hetti said: "I'm really excited to be joining such an iconic show as EastEnders, especially becoming part of the Beale household.

"I'm looking forward to finding out what's in store for Lucy and seeing what she's going to get up to when she returns to Walford."

Hetti, has previously played leading roles in this year's feature film Counting Backwards, directed by Sean De Sparango, and was cast in the British film St George Day, directed by Frank Harper, acting alongside Charles Dance and Nick Moran.

Her casting was meant to remain a secret, until she was snapped filming a funeral scene. Mark Jermin added: "We did some workshops for the BBC, but we weren't told what the character was.

"When we found out, and that Hetti had been cast, we started popping champagne, and called her up and told her to go shopping and splash out. She is a really good actor and we aren't surprised."

Hetti is due to appear on screen for her first scenes in January.

Previous Lucy Beale storylines:

Lucy spends a year separated from her brothers Peter and Steven after her mum Cindy flees the country with them after attempting to have Lucy's dad Ian shot.

Lucy ends up with a step-mum, Melanie Healy, but only after her dad Ian lies about her having cancer.

As a teenager Lucy starts stealing, smoking, drinking alcohol, lying and playing truant.

She claims she is in touch with her dead mother Cindy, but it is her brother Steven posing as Cindy in order to kidnap Ian whom he holds for several weeks.

nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk