Louise Mitchell
Louise Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, who has been played by four different actors since her on-screen birth on 6 November 2001. Louise has been played by Rachel Cox between 2001 and 2003, Danni Bennatar in 2008, Brittany Papple in 2010, and Tilly Keeper from 2016 to 2020. Keeper's casting was announced on 16 December 2015, and she made her first appearance as Louise on 15 January 2016. The character's departure was announced in December 2019 after Keeper quit the role, with Louise making her last appearance on 24 January 2020.
Louise is a member of the Mitchell family and was briefly part of the Fowler family. She is the daughter of Phil Mitchell and Lisa Shaw, former stepdaughter of Sharon Watts, granddaughter of Peggy Mitchell and the half-sister of Ben Mitchell. Louise's early storylines include Lisa lying about her paternity; her nearly being killed in a road collision caused by Phil's archenemy Steve Owen ; subsequently becoming caught up in her parents' relationship; and a feud with Ben that involves him physically torturing her.
From her return in 2016, Louise's storylines included her blackmailing Abi Branning over her fake pregnancy; helping her father cope with the death of his mother Peggy; forming a friendship with Bex Fowler ; being the victim of bullying by Alexandra D'Costa and Madison Drake, in the early midst of which Louise briefly bullied Bex. After the bullying storyline ended with Louise suffering burns in her prom disaster, Lisa made a brief return to the series and appeared to have abducted Louise, although this was part of the feud between Lisa and Phil. In addition, Louise's storylines have also included being kidnapped by a gang that are in dodgy dealings with Ben and Phil, and relationships with fellow student Travis Law-Hughes ; Steve's son Hunter Owen ; local classmate Keegan Baker and Phil's employee Keanu Taylor, which results in the birth of their daughter Peggy Taylor. Louise played a pivotal role at Christmas 2019 when she discovered that Keanu had been sleeping with her stepmother Sharon and is the father of her unborn child. After leaving Keanu for dead, Louise departed to Portugal with Lisa and Peggy to escape imprisonment.
Development
Early development
The character is portrayed by Rachel Cox from the character's birth in 2001. As Phil is unaware that he is Louise's father, Benjamin said that Lisa finds it hard to keep Louise's parentage a secret. Feeling "overwhelmed" by Louise's birth and needing to discuss her "dilemma", Lisa confides in Phil's girlfriend, Sharon Watts. Benjamin added that Lisa chooses to reveal the truth to Sharon "for a number of reasons" and "hopes that Sharon will tell her she's doing the right thing" as well there being a "part of her that wants Phil to find out so she can stop living a lie." Regarding the December 2001 story line where Louise stops breathing while under Sharon's care, Dean explained that Sharon feels "much more responsible" as she is responsible for Louise's welfare and "was meant to be doing the babysitting, not Phil." Lisa is "angry, upset and really worried" and Dean said that Sharon is "very worried about Louise". Dean believed that if Phil discovered Louise was his daughter, Sharon and Phil's relationship would end. Louise's illness was a central storyline at Christmas 2001. Benjamin said the storyline would have "huge repercussions" and explained that it begins with "hope" but "goes horribly wrong in true Lisa style".Following Benjamin's axing in 2002, Louise departed on-screen in October 2002. To tie with storylines, Louise was returned the following month when Phil gains custody of her. It was announced in June 2003 that Benjamin would return to the series and she explained, "I didn't think Lisa would give up baby Lou without one last fight." Lisa returned in September 2003 for two months and left on 28 November 2003 with Louise, marking the final appearance of Cox in the role.
Following a storyline in 2007 when Phil suggests finding Louise, she was reintroduced for one episode on 4 January 2008. The role of Louise was recast to Danni Bennatar. On 9 March 2010, it was announced that a "secret Mitchell" would arrive in the series looking for a "missing parent". The possible parents were Phil, Billy Mitchell and Ronnie Mitchell. The character arrives at "the local Tube station with just a small rucksack" where she first interacts with Ronnie. Despite initially being credited as "Little Girl", the character was revealed as Louise, who was now played by Brittany Papple. Benjamin explained that Louise was "old enough to make her own decisions and say, 'I want to live with my dad now'. So had to let her go."
The storyline where Louise is abused by her older half-brother, Ben Mitchell, by repeatedly burning her hand with a hot spoon, is a reflection of how Ben had been abused in the same way by Phil's former fiancée Stella Crawford. Ben decides that Louise would "learn a lesson the same way he did". When Phil discovers that Ben is responsible, he "starts to worry that Ben is mimicking" Stella's behaviour. The storyline ends when Phil discovers that Ben is abusing Louise. In 2016, Keeper explained that "there's an element to that's scared of Ben" and described Ben's behaviour as "horrible", referring to this earlier storyline.
Papple was axed from the series in 2010 to serve as a catalyst for a storyline which sees Phil become addicted to drugs. Benjamin reprised her role for one episode to aid Louise's departure. A show spokesperson explained that Lisa "won't be happy about him looking after his daughter." They teased that "this storyline is going to be an explosive episode in the Mitchells' history." Louise departed in the episode broadcast on 5 August 2010.
Reintroduction (2016)
On 16 December 2015, it was announced that Louise would be returning to the serial in early 2016. The role was recast, with 18-year-old television newcomer Tilly Keeper cast in the role. At the time of her casting, Keeper said, "I am so thrilled to be joining the cast of EastEnders, especially to be joining the Mitchell clan! It's a dream come true and I can't wait to get stuck into the role and see what lies in store for Louise." Keeper's EastEnders audition was her first audition since she left school. She believed she was auditioning for a character named Grace, and two days before she started filming, Keeper was told that she would play Louise and her first scene would be with McFadden. Keeper said that she felt like she had "hit the jackpot" when she received the role, and said she felt "smug" to be playing Louise, though wished she had been told sooner. Keeper added she is in "awe" of McFadden and described it as "incredible" to act with him. In her first scene, Keeper was required to "give it her all" as McFadden was acting drunk and had to be a "stand-offish and moody horrible teenage girl" during the "emotional" scenes. Keeper stated she also "adores" working with Reid and Jamie Borthwick, who play her half-brother Ben and brother figure Jay and hopes for further scenes with Linda Henry as she likes their "funny" pairing and "nice relationship".The character was reintroduced, having estranged from Lisa and decided to become "a true Mitchell". Upon her reintroduction, Louise was billed as "feisty and fearless" as well as a "treacherous teen." Keeper said that Louise is mischievous, but does not want to be seen as a child and would target "anyone who doesn't fall for her little bright-eyed, puppy dog face". Louise first appears in 2016 when Phil visits her at school to give her some money. A show insider explained that Louise is "shocked" when she sees Phil as he is "in a really bad way" and she is unsure what to do."
In April 2016, Louise moves to the show's fictional setting of Albert Square; Keeper explained that Louise wants to stay in Albert Square to gain attention that she was not getting from Lisa and to help Phil recover from his alcoholism because she "wants him to love her" instead of alcohol. Keeper said that Louise and Lisa's relationship will be explained, reiterating that Louise is "just looking for a bit of love". Keeper believes that a return from Lisa would be "interesting" to see how the relationship has changed. Keeper said that Louise has "Phil wrapped around her little finger", despite being "jealous" of Ben and Phil's relationship." Despite being "tough and ballsy" as a Mitchell, as well as a "bit twisted", Louise is ultimately "still a little girl still quite vulnerable." She later told Laura Heffernan of Inside Soap that Louise has "real daddy issues" and should Phil die, Louise would "go off the rails". She describes Louise's forgiveness of Phil abandoning her as "natural", despite the lack of contact, as the serious nature of Phil's illness caused by alcohol "definitely hit a nerve with her." Following Ben's abuse of Louise in 2010, she is scared of him, but is hesitant to display this. Keeper revealed that she and Reid try to include spoons in their scenes as a reference to the storyline. Keeper hopes that Louise and Ben can move on and forge a relationship. Speaking of the possibility that Louise would enter a romantic relationship, Keeper said, "I don't think anyone would be able to handle her! She wants to cement her place as the It Girl of Walford before she selects her man."
Louise blackmails Abi Branning, Ben's girlfriend, after discovering she is faking her pregnancy. Louise tries to separate Abi and Ben, which annoys Abi. Keeper defended Louise's actions, saying she is "bored" and that blackmailing Abi is something to do. Barbara Windsor reprised her role as Louise's grandmother, Peggy Mitchell, for her final stint in May 2016, on which Keeper said that she was, "so excited to play Peggy's granddaughter". She explained that Louise "adores and idolises Peggy", which resembles the actress' relationship with Windsor. Keeper has reflected on the storyline, branding it "an utter privilege" and "a real honour", adding that she had hoped to film with Windsor.
In January 2017, Keeper described Louise's development as "quite organic" and explained that viewers would lose interest in the character if she was "just a constant bitch all of the time" so she has created a multi-layered character. She reflected on her first year, noting that the layers of the character have "come to life" across the year. Keeper expressed an interest in filming scenes with Linda Henry, who plays Shirley Carter, describing Louise and Shirley's relationship as "really cool" and noting they are "quite pally" because Shirley was a mother figure in Louise's 2010 stint. She also hoped for more scenes with Reid and Borthwick as the "dynamics" between them and Louise are "always good and often hilarious". Keeper later said that she enjoyed Louise's relationship with Jay and Ben, describing Louise and Jay as "pally" and noting that despite their close relationship, there is "a bit of animosity" in Louise and Ben's relationship.