A much-loved EastEnders star is back on our screens – but this time, they’re shaking things up in Summer Bay, Australia.

Hannah Waterman made her Walford debut back in 2000 as Laura Beale.

She was best known as Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) third wife.

But, she was brutally killed off four years later when she went to answer the door and tripped over a toy before falling down the stairs and dying.

Chaos followed as Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) found herself accused of murdering Laura – after a damning receipt turned up in Laura’s flat following one of their explosive rows.

The gripping death plot had fans hooked and went down as one of the most unforgettable moments in EastEnders history.

Since her exit, Hannah has appeared in episodes of Doctors, The Bill, New Tricks and Holby City.

She swapped the UK for Australia over adecade ago and made waves starring in Aussie dramas.

Now based in Sydney, Hannah’s credits include the Aussie-Indonesian hit Bali 2002.

But, her new gig on Home and Away marks a proper return to the soap scene.

This year, the iconic Aussie soap celebrated a whopping 35 years on air, with special reruns on a dedicated channel to mark the milestone.

Home and Away first hit screens on January 17, 1988.

Channel 5 snapped up the rights in 2000 – and they’ve been pumping out fresh episodes ever since.

A source said: “Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she’s still acting.

“She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows it could mean she finds her way back more permanently.”

The new role comes three years after Hannah tied the knot to former The Bill star husband Huw Higginson.

Huw is most notable for his ten-year role in The Bill as PC George Garfield.

Huw posted a celebratory shot showing their special day in October 2022 as they posed with their son Jack, 11, on a boat in Sydney.

The Bill actor gushed in his caption: “Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days.”

Hannah can be seen gazing lovingly at her spouse as they celebrated their special day.

She wore a patterned, long-sleeve blue frock – perhaps as her something blue – complete with gold strappy sandals and a navy pashmina.

She clutched a bouquet of cream flowers and accessorised with a pair of sunglasses.

The happy couple made the move to Australia in 2014.

It came after Hannah married fellow EastEnders star Ricky Groves in 2006.

But, the pair separated in 2010 and divorced in 2014.

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