Hannah Waterman
Hannah Elizabeth Waterman (born 22 July 1975) is an English actress best known for portraying Laura Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2000 to 2004.[1][2] The daughter of actors Dennis Waterman and Patricia Maynard, Waterman was born in London and began her acting career with early television appearances before landing her breakthrough role as the troubled Laura Beale, a character involved in high-profile storylines including her dramatic death.[3][4] Following her EastEnders exit, she took on guest roles in series such as New Tricks, where she played Emily Driscoll opposite her real-life father as Gerry Standing, and The Bill, alongside a variety of stage productions including Abigail's Party and Carrie's War.[5][6] In her personal life, Waterman married her EastEnders co-star Ricky Groves in 2006; the couple separated in 2010 and divorced in 2014.[7] She began a relationship with actor Huw Higginson around the same time and married him in Sydney, Australia, in October 2022.[8] Waterman and Higginson relocated to Australia, where she has since pursued further opportunities, including roles as Razzie in NCIS: Sydney and a magistrate in the soap opera Home and Away.[9][10] She also appeared in the 2018 film The Nightingale.[11]Early life and education
Family background
Hannah Waterman was born on 22 July 1975 in London, England, to the actors Dennis Waterman and Patricia Maynard.[12] Her father gained prominence for his tough-guy roles in British television series including The Sweeney (1975–1978), Minder (1979–1994), and New Tricks (2003–2015), while her mother appeared in productions such as Doctor Who and Holby City.[13] Dennis Waterman passed away in 2022 at the age of 74.[14] As the elder of two daughters—her sister Julia was born in 1979—Waterman grew up immersed in the entertainment world due to her parents' professions.[12] The family lived in a vibrant showbiz milieu, with young Hannah accompanying her father to celebrity hotspots like The Star Tavern and The Turks Head in London, where she mingled in his professional social circles from an early age.[13] This upbringing fostered Waterman's early fascination with acting, drawing her to follow in her father's footsteps despite her parents' initial efforts to steer her away from the industry.[15] The legacy of her family's acting heritage provided a foundational influence on her career aspirations, embedding a deep appreciation for the profession's demands and rewards.[12]Schooling and higher education
Hannah Waterman received her early education at several independent girls' schools in England, including Norwich High School for Girls in Norfolk, Saint Felix School in Suffolk, and Putney High School in London.[16][17][18] During her school years, Waterman developed an interest in drama through extracurricular activities, notably joining the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain at the age of 16, which provided foundational training in performance and theatre.[19] She later pursued higher education at the University of Warwick, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theatre Studies in 1996; her choice of studies was influenced by her family's longstanding involvement in the acting profession.[20][21] While at university, Waterman participated in notable drama-related events, including winning the National Shakespeare on a Platform Competition at the New Globe Theatre in 1993.[20] Following her graduation in the mid-1990s, Waterman transitioned from academia to initial pursuits in acting, leveraging her formal education and youth theatre experience to explore professional opportunities in the field.[20]Career
EastEnders
Hannah Waterman first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in a guest role in 1997, portraying Maria, an HIV-positive patient encountered by Mark Fowler at a clinic.[22] She joined the regular cast three years later in February 2000 as Laura Dunn, initially introduced as the nanny to Ian Beale's children amid his personal turmoil following the disappearance of his previous wife, Mel Owen.[23] Waterman's character quickly developed a romantic relationship with Ian Beale (played by Adam Woodyatt), leading to their marriage and her adoption of the Beale surname; the role ultimately spanned 346 episodes.[11] Throughout her tenure, Laura Beale's storylines centered on her turbulent marriage to Ian, including the birth of their son Bobby Beale in 2003 and escalating tensions with scheming neighbor Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who attempted to frame Laura for benefit fraud. The character's arc concluded dramatically on 30 April 2004, when, during a heated confrontation with Janine, Laura tripped over a child's toy while rushing down the stairs, resulting in a fatal fall that broke her neck; Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) discovered her body, leading to Janine's wrongful arrest for murder.[23] This exit storyline was later described as one of the show's most unforgettable, contributing to significant plot developments involving the Beale family.[24] Waterman's portrayal received positive attention for bringing depth to the long-suffering Laura, with her performance helping to sustain viewer engagement during a period of evolving Beale family dynamics. She attended events like the British Soap Awards in recognition of her work, though specific nominations were not documented in major outlets. The dramatic nature of Laura's death drew widespread discussion among audiences, underscoring the impact of Waterman's contribution to the series.[25] In December 2003, it was announced that Waterman would depart the following year, a decision reached in consultation with executive producer Louise Berridge, who noted that the character had reached the end of her natural storyline progression. Waterman expressed enjoyment from her four years on the show but stated it was time to move on for both herself and the character, looking forward to pursuing other acting opportunities.[26]Other television and film roles
Following her departure from EastEnders in 2004, Hannah Waterman took on various guest roles in British television series. She appeared in episodes of the medical drama Doctors, portraying characters such as DI Collier and Maria Thomas.[27] She also featured in Holby City as Ruby Macintosh and Pauline McDonald.[9] Additional appearances included The Bill.[28] Waterman had a recurring role in the crime series New Tricks from 2006 to 2010, appearing in 7 episodes as Emily Driscoll, the non-biological daughter of her father's character Gerry Standing.[29] In film, Waterman starred as Sarah Benedict in the 2011 thriller Patient 17.[30] She later provided voice work for the 2018 horror film The Nightingale.[31] She also starred as Sarah in the 2024 film Touch.[32] Since relocating to Australia in 2014 after her last UK-based role in 2013, Waterman has pursued opportunities in Australian television. In 2024, she guest-starred as a magistrate in two episodes of the soap opera Home and Away.[10] She also appeared as Razzie in an episode of NCIS: Sydney in March 2025.[33]Theatre and media appearances
Hannah Waterman has maintained an active presence in theatre throughout her career, often drawing on her television profile to secure roles in both West End productions and regional tours. Following her departure from EastEnders, she appeared in The Vagina Monologues in 2004, performing at venues including the Watford Colosseum and other UK locations as part of the touring production that highlighted women's experiences through monologues.[34][35] Later that year, she starred in Soap at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, playing a lead role in the comedy that satirized the soap opera genre, alongside fellow soap actors Ben Hull and Dean Sullivan.[36][37] In 2005, Waterman made her West End debut in Tom, Dick and Harry at the Duke of York's Theatre, portraying Linda, the wife of the protagonist in the Ray and Michael Cooney farce about a couple navigating adoption complications with fraternal mix-ups.[38][39] She continued with Calendar Girls in late 2009, joining the West End production at the Noël Coward Theatre as Cora (Miss July), replacing Julie Goodyear, before transitioning to the role of Ruth during the subsequent UK tour from January to July 2010.[40][41] Regional engagements followed, including a four-day run in Survive! at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham in September 2011, and the role of Violet, the family maid, in The Winslow Boy during its final week at the same venue in April 2012.[42] In 2013, she led the UK tour revival of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party as the host Beverly, delivering a performance noted for its portrayal of pent-up energy and social awkwardness in a 1970s suburban setting.[43][44][45] Waterman's theatre work extended to non-scripted media through her victory in the BBC singing competition Just the Two of Us in 2007, where she partnered with Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet, performing duets and winning the second series final on 7 January.[46] This appearance showcased her vocal abilities and leveraged her EastEnders fame to reach a broader audience in a light-entertainment format. In 2009, she released the fitness DVD Hannah Waterman's Body Blitz, a program based on her personal weight loss journey from a size 16 to a size 6 over five months using interval training routines, structured into 20-minute segments equivalent to an hour of traditional aerobics, which received positive user feedback for its accessibility and effectiveness.[47][48] After relocating to Australia in 2014, Waterman discussed her career hiatus in media interviews, attributing it to family priorities before resuming stage work, including roles in The Kitchen Sink at the Ensemble Theatre in 2017, Summer of Harold by Hilary Bell in 2023, and The Spare Room at Belvoir St Theatre in 2025, where she appreciated the supportive local industry.[49][50] In a 2021 interview, she reflected on the transition, noting how the move allowed a fresh start in theatre while maintaining selective media engagements related to her past work.[51][52] Her EastEnders background briefly influenced these opportunities, providing recognition that facilitated invitations to Australian productions.[53]Personal life
Relationships and marriage
Hannah Waterman first gained public attention for her personal life through her relationship with fellow EastEnders actor Ricky Groves, whom she met on the set in 2000 while portraying the on-screen married couple Laura Beale and Garry Hobbs.[54] Their characters' storylines, which depicted a devoted partnership, paralleled and fostered their off-screen romance, which blossomed after they began dating shortly after meeting.[55] The couple became engaged in 2005 and married in a private ceremony in 2006, marking a transition from fictional to real-life commitment influenced by their shared professional experiences.[54] The marriage faced challenges, culminating in Waterman's confession of an extramarital affair on New Year's Eve 2009, which prompted their separation the following year.[54] Groves later described the split as devastating, stating it took him a long time to recover emotionally.[54] The divorce was finalized in 2014 after a contentious period marked by public revelations about the infidelity.[54] In the wake of her separation from Groves, Waterman began a relationship with actor Huw Higginson in 2010, building on a longstanding friendship that dated back over a decade.[56] Higginson, best known for his role as DS George Garfield in The Bill, had collaborated with Waterman in theatre productions, which reignited their connection in 2009.[56] The pair started cohabiting in Waterman's Essex home that June, establishing a stable partnership that endured for years.[56] After more than a decade together, they married on October 12, 2022, in an intimate ceremony aboard a boat in Sydney Harbour, Australia, where Waterman wore a blue patterned dress and Higginson a navy suit.[56] The death of Waterman's father, veteran actor Dennis Waterman, from lung cancer on May 8, 2022, at the age of 74, profoundly impacted her family dynamics, evoking a deep sense of loss amid her recent marital milestone.[57] Waterman publicly honored him with an emotional Instagram tribute shortly after, sharing a black-and-white childhood photo of Dennis cradling her as a baby and captioning it, “Me and my Dad! Gosh how I loved him. X”[58] This heartfelt post underscored the enduring father-daughter bond and the grief that reshaped her personal reflections during a transitional period in her life.[58]Family and relocation
Waterman and her partner, actor Huw Higginson, welcomed their first child, a son named Jack, in June 2011.[59] In 2014, Waterman, Higginson, and their young son relocated from London to Sydney, Australia, to pursue a new life that offered improved family circumstances and professional prospects in acting.[56][60] Since the move, the family has adapted to expatriate living in Sydney, where Waterman balances domestic life with her son against selective acting engagements, including responses to UK opportunities alongside Australian-based work.[51] Waterman has sustained strong bonds with her extended UK family following the relocation, exemplified by heartfelt tributes after her father Dennis Waterman's death in May 2022; his emphasis on resilience shaped her approach to family priorities.[58][14]Filmography
Television
Hannah Waterman's television credits include a mix of guest spots, recurring roles, and soap opera appearances, primarily in British productions, with recent work in Australian series.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997, 2000–2004 | EastEnders | Maria (1997); Laura Beale (2000–2004) | Guest appearance in 1997 as an HIV-positive patient; main role as Ian Beale's wife, appearing in 347 episodes overall.[11][61] |
| 1998 | Casualty | Maria | Guest role in the episode "Honey Bunny". |
| 2006 | Doctors | Maria Thomas | Guest role in the episode "Keys to the Heart".[62] |
| 2006 | The Bill | Fern Parker | Guest role in the episode "Too Little, Too Late: Part 1".[63] |
| 2006–2010 | New Tricks | Emily Driscoll | Recurring role in 7 episodes as the non-biological daughter of Gerry Standing (played by her real-life father, Dennis Waterman).[64][65] |
| 2007 | Holby City | Pauline McDonald | Guest role in the episode "The End of the World as We Know It".[66] |
| 2012 | Holby City | Ruby Macintosh | Guest role in the episode "Half a Person".[67] |
| 2012–2013 | Doctors | DI Collier | Recurring role in 8 episodes.[27] |
| 2022 | Bali 2002 | Rosemary Miller | Guest role in the episode "Restoring the Balance".[9] |
| 2024 | Home and Away | Magistrate | Guest role in 2 episodes.[60] |
| 2025 | NCIS: Sydney | Razzie | Upcoming guest role in season 2, episode 5.[33] |