Isle of Wight actress Anna Constable will make her EastEnders debut on BBC One tonight (Monday), just 2 weeks after it was revealed that she had landed a role in the long-running soap.
Anna will make her first appearance in Albert Square as Jodie Hawkins, the youngest sister of Nicola Mitchell, as Nicola’s estranged family arrive in Walford.
The Island actress’s debut comes in tonight’s episode, which sees the Hawkins family make a dramatic entrance when their car narrowly misses a postman before crashing into a bin on the Square.
Nicola’s relatives then emerge from the vehicle, with Anna making her first appearance as Jodie.
It doesn’t take long for the new character to make an impression. Jodie announces that she is going to ‘wee herself’ as she desperately searches for a toilet, prompting Nicola to direct her towards The Queen Vic.
After using the facilities, Jodie heads to the bar and orders a tap water – much to the disgust of Kat.
Island Echo reported earlier this month that Anna had landed the EastEnders role, joining 4 other new cast members as part of the Hawkins family. The new arrivals also include Gemma Hawkins, Nicola’s estranged sister, alongside Gemma’s husband Ned Roper, their son Ryder and Nicola’s mother Rose.
Anna, who has Noonan Syndrome, has built her acting career while living with epilepsy and other health conditions that leave her in chronic pain. She graduated from a Performance Making course in 2023 after travelling to London twice a week to study.
Her previous work has included performances with Way Forward and Theatre Train, as well as Imposter 22 in London’s West End and a role at The Lowry in Salford. Wightlink has supported Anna with assisted travel since 2022 as she has pursued her acting career.
Speaking when her casting was announced, Anna, said:
“Growing up watching EastEnders I never thought a disabled actress like me could ever land a role like this.
“But here I am loud and proud and taking no prisoners in mine or Jodie’s wake.”
Tonight’s episode of EastEnders can also be watched now on BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0030g3g/eastenders-17082026.
