Lucy Beale
Lucy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The character was played by Eva Brittin-Snell, Casey Anne Rothery, Melissa Suffield, and Hetti Bywater. Lucy was introduced in December 1993 as the daughter of Ian and Cindy Beale. She was the twin sister of Peter Beale, and had five half siblings, Steven Beale, Cindy Williams, Gina Knight, Anna Knight and Bobby Beale.
From 2004, when the role was recast to the older Suffield, storylines featuring Lucy focused upon her teenage rebellion. In 2010, Suffield left EastEnders, after she was allegedly axed due to "unruly behaviour." On 14 November 2011, it was announced Lucy would be returning in 2012 with Bywater taking over the role. She returned on 12 January 2012. Her storylines have included teenage pregnancy, abortion, cheating in her exams, struggling to cope when Ian has a mental breakdown and runs away, feuding, taking over Ian's businesses, and multiple relationships, including an affair with her best friend's father, Max Branning.
On 21 February 2014, it was announced that Lucy would be murdered, starting a dark chapter for the Beale family and a whodunit storyline that would run until the show's 30th anniversary in February 2015 when the identity of the murderer would be revealed. The "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" storyline was billed as the soap's biggest whodunnit, and was EastEnders' biggest marketing campaign to date. Bywater returned in a flashback episode on 19 February 2015 to explore unanswered questions about the night Lucy died. The same episode revealed that Lucy's 10-year-old half-brother Bobby was her killer, after 10 months of secrecy regarding her demise. The character reappeared as hallucinations in 2019 and 2020, portrayed by a body double and using archive footage.
Casting and development
As a baby and toddler, Lucy was played by Eva Brittin-Snell for the first three years. Casey Anne Rothery took over the role in 1996 and played Lucy for nearly eight years. In August 2004 it was announced that Rothery, along with Joseph Shade, who played Lucy's twin brother Peter Beale, had been axed from EastEnders as producers were looking to mature the characters. The actors were told days before filming their final scenes that they would be leaving. Rothery's family were said to be furious, with a family friend telling The People, "It was a bolt out of the blue. She is devastated and has been in tears. To be booted out without any warning is a real kick in the teeth. She rang her dad in tears. He phoned soap bosses to complain and they admitted they could have handled things a lot better." An EastEnders spokesperson said, "Joseph and Casey Anne have done a fantastic job. They're written into EastEnders history and everyone will miss them." Casey's final episode aired on 21 September 2004. It was later announced that young actress Melissa Suffield would take over the role, and she first appeared on 28 October 2004. In March 2010, Suffield said that she wished "people didn't think I was like in real life because I'm not."In 2010, Lucy was involved in a pregnancy storyline, on which Suffield said "I'm excited about the storyline because it's something brilliant to get my teeth into. I love playing 'bitch Lucy', but you'll soon see a completely different side to her." The storyline involved Lucy offering to have the baby so that it could be brought up by Ian and her step mother Jane. An Albert Square insider said: "Lucy's run rings around her father Ian and stepmum Jane for years. Lucy falls pregnant just at a time when Jane's desperate for a child of her own. Jane believes that the baby could be the solution to her dream of having a baby with Ian.
In May 2010 it was announced that Suffield had been axed from the show allegedly due to "unruly behaviour" off-set. In June it was reported that the character would be recast. Suffield left the show on 27 August 2010. In February 2011 an EastEnders spokesperson said that no decision on Lucy's recasting had been made.
On 14 November 2011, it was announced the character would be returning to EastEnders in January 2012 with Hetti Bywater taking over the role. Of her casting, Bywater 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 find out what's in store for Lucy and seeing what she's going to get up to when she returns to Walford." After seeing Bywater's first episode, Melissa Suffield said that she has moved on from EastEnders and also wished Bywater good luck in the role. Bywater expressed that she would like Peter Beale to return to the show, with Thomas Law playing him.
Departure and cameo appearances
On 21 February 2014, it was revealed that Hetti Bywater would leave the show, ending in a "raw", "emotional" and "gritty" storyline, with the character being killed off in the spring. The storyline was somewhat foreshadowed by new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins stating at an EastEnders press event in December 2013 that "there's a big, big Beale story that will hit around Easter and keep going until the anniversary." Treadwell-Collins also stated that it would give Adam Woodyatt "a big chance to shine" throughout the storyline. In the episode dated 18 April 2014, Lucy's lifeless body lay on Walford Common, beginning the storyline.It was revealed on 19 February 2015 that Lucy was in fact killed by her younger brother, Bobby. Ian initially believes that Jane killed her, but it is later revealed that Jane covered for Bobby by placing Lucy's body on Walford Common. Jane reveals to Ian, Peter and Cindy that Bobby is unaware he killed her, and instead believes that she was killed when she headed out later that night in a mugging.
The character of Bobby was reintroduced in 2019, having been imprisoned for Lucy's murder for three years, with Clay Milner Russell in the role. Writers chose to explore Bobby's guilt over Lucy's murder and struggle adapting back to Walford, following his return. As part of the storyline, the character of Lucy was reintroduced for a cameo appearance. Bywater did not reprise the role for the appearance, and a body double was hired instead.
Storylines
1993–2010
Lucy and her twin brother Peter Beale are born off-screen on 9 December 1993, to Ian and Cindy Beale. The twins are born on the same day Ian's father, Pete Beale, dies in a car accident with his girlfriend, Rose Chapman. In 1996, Cindy hires a hitman to kill Ian, but he survives and fearing she will be arrested, she goes on the run with Peter and her eldest son, Steven Beale, and she is unable to get Lucy. Ian hires a private investigator, who locates Cindy in Italy and Ian, his stepfather Phil Mitchell and Phil's brother Grant Mitchell, go to Italy and take Steven and Peter. Cindy returns to Walford with her boyfriend, Nick Holland, and she wins custody of Steven, Lucy and Peter, but is arrested for attempted murder and is remanded in custody, so the children stay with Ian. In November 1998, Cindy dies of complications after giving birth to hers and Nick's daughter Cindy Williams, who is Lucy's younger half-sister. Steven, Lucy and Peter grow up with various stepmothers: Mel Healy splits from Ian straight after marrying him in Millennium Eve due to her finding out Lucy was not sick with cancer as initially feared and in July 2003, Ian's wife Laura Beale gives birth to hers and Ian's son, Bobby Beale, who is Lucy and Peter's younger half-brother, and they separate when Ian denies paternity, but she later dies in March 2004. Ian meets Jane Collins at a fair, but Lucy and Peter struggle to bond with her due to Ian's past relationships, but are persuaded by Ian's aunt, Pauline Fowler to give her a chance. Lucy and Peter are both picked on by twins Demi Miller and Darren Miller.Progressing into her teens, Lucy becomes rebellious—stealing, smoking, drinking alcohol, lying, playing truant from school, being surly to Ian and Jane, and taking an interest in boys. Things worsen when Ian employs Craig Dixon in his chip shop. Lucy and Craig are attracted to one another, and despite Craig being five years older than Lucy, they begin dating. Craig is a bad influence on Lucy, and upon discovering their relationship, Ian warns Craig away. Lucy runs away with Craig, unperturbed that he carries a gun and assaulted Patrick Trueman. However, when he tries to press her for sex, she panics and returns to Walford, telling Ian that Craig assaulted Patrick. Craig is arrested for attempted murder; however, Lucy keeps his gun, which he had stashed in her bag.
In 2007, Lucy is contacted by a person claiming to be Cindy. It transpires that Steven was posing as Cindy to terrorise and kidnap Ian, blaming him for Cindy's death. Steven holds Ian hostage for weeks, while moving in with the Beale family. The situation ends when Steven accidentally shoots Jane with Craig's gun. Ian gets Steven psychiatric help and allows him to live with them, to Lucy's delight. In early 2008, Ian and Lucy argue about a destructive house party Lucy had in his absence. Lucy slaps Ian and he slaps her back; and she runs away. The Beales search for Lucy for weeks, before it is revealed that Steven has been hiding her, turning her against Ian and convincing her to move to France, so he can usurp her place in Ian's affections. Ian discovers the truth and convinces Lucy to come home and banishes Steven.
Lucy stays with Jane's brother Christian Clarke briefly, has a relationship with an older boy, Olly Greenwood, decides to take the contraceptive pill and engages in blackmail to earn money. Lucy has sex with Leon Small and gets pregnant; unaware of this, Leon dumps Lucy for Zsa Zsa Carter. Not ready to be a mother, Lucy asks Jane to adopt her baby and Jane agrees. Ian, however, is concerned that Jane manipulated Lucy to allow her to adopt the baby as she cannot have one of her own. He makes Lucy watch a video of a woman giving birth and persuades her to have an abortion. They agree to tell Jane that she miscarried.
Lucy receives excellent grades in her GCSEs, having paid Adam Best to help her cheat. When the school question the authenticity of her exam results, she admits that she cheated and is told to retake her final year. Lucy decides not to and goes to her grandmother Bev Williams in Devon.