Susan Tully: Michelle Fowler looks unrecognisable 27 years after EastEnders

Susan Tully, best known for playing Michelle Fowler in EastEnders looks unrecognisable 27 years after leaving the soap to embark on a new career. 

Having played Pauline Fowler’s daughter for a decade, Susan, 55, is now a successful TV director.

The actress began her directing career directing on BBC series, Funland and Silent Witness. She also has the The Bill, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her résumé.

Wow: Susan pictured as Michelle Fowler on the soap in 1986 – her character famously became pregnant at the age of 16 by ‘Dirty Den’ Watts, giving birth to a daughter called Vicky

She worked on Jez Butterworth’s Britannia, Tin Star, Musketeers and last year she became the first female to direct on Line Of Duty.

Susan was listed as the director for episode five and will also oversee the gripping final episode six. 

Her onscreen EastEnders character famously became pregnant at the age of 16 by ‘Dirty Den’ Watts, giving birth to a daughter called Vicky. 

Den was the adoptive father of Michelle’s best friend Sharon Mitchell, played by Letitia Dean. 

Gripping: Susan became the first female to direct on Line Of Duty, (pictured) Susan was listed as the director for episode five and will also oversee the gripping final episode six

Back in the day: Susan Tully (far right) pictured with Bill Treacher as Arthur Fowler, Wendy Richard as Pauline Fowler, Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale, Peter Dean as Pete Beale (back row) as well as Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale, Anna Wing as Lou Beale (front row)

Michelle  then had son Mark Jr, who she had with Grant Mitchell. 

The soap character missed family funerals, including her father Arthur, mother Pauline and brother Mark, and was even name checked by Ian Beale’s after his daughter Lucy died in 2014.

When it was revealed Peggy Mitchell – played by Barbara Windsor – was dying from cancer, Sharon called Michelle to inform her of the icon’s illness.

Yet, Michelle was too late to correspond with the landlady after a letter she sent her arrived the day following her death, but Sharon read the letter and immediately visited her.

Upon her return to Walford in August, Phil discovered the letter and discovered that Mark was his brother Grant’s son.

Susan returned to her former home of EastEnders briefly in 1989 to 1999 to direct 12 episodes. 

The character of Michelle returned to Walford once again in 2016 for one year but was played by Jenna Russell. 

A source said at the time: ‘EastEnders have been trying to convince Susan to come back for more than 20 years but they agreed enough was enough and have decided to recast the role.

‘They thought Jenna was a great fit and think she will do a great job as Michelle who is one of the most popular characters in the show’s history.

‘The show has faced accusations of being boring lately, but curveballs like this shows it still keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.’ 

Prior to her EastEnders stint, Susan had starred as Suzanne Ross on Grange Hill for four years between 1981 to 1984. 

The actress even returned to her former home of EastEnders briefly in 1989 to 1999 to direct 12 episodes. 

Changing faces: The character of Michelle returned to Walford once again in 2016 for one year but was played by Jenna Russell, (left) 

Impressive: Since her EastEnders exit, Susan has paved a successful career in directing with the likes of The Bill, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her résumé (pictured in 1996) 

Shaking things up: Meanwhile, Michelle was involved in a number of major storylines during her ten years on the BBC1 soap including having a baby with Den Watts