| Ellie Mills | |||||||||||||||
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| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Sarah Baxendale | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2002–2005 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 15 February 2002 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 25 March 2005 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Jo Hallows | ||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith | ||||||||||||||
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Ellie Mills (also Hunter) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sarah Baxendale. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 15 February 2002. Ellie is part of the show's Hunter family. She had been referenced on-screen numerous times as her family were searching for her after she goes missing in Ibiza. She later arrives in Chester which shocks her family. Ellie is characterised as a confident and independent female but has selfish tendencies. Ellie's stories have revolved around her relationships, especially with Toby Mills (Henry Luxemburg), who she later marries. Writers portrayed Toby as a serial killer who goes on a prolonged murder spree in the community. Writers embroiled Ellie into his crimes and she choses not to report him to the police. Ellie later fears for her safety and flees to Liverpool. The scenes formed part of a late-night spin-off episode titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith, which featured Toby's death. Ellie was featured in one of the show's biggest stunts when she and Toby fall from a one-hundred foot building. Ellie survives and later allows her brother, Dan Hunter (Andrew McNair) to take the blame for the murders. Ellie's lies are soon discovered and she is arrested and put on trial for covering up Toby's murders.
Baxendale left Hollyoaks in 2005. She made her final appearance as Ellie during the episode broadcast on 25 March 2005. For her portrayal of Ellie, Baxendale was nominated for "Best Bitch" at the 2004 Inside Soap Awards and Ellie and Toby's rooftop fall was nominated for a Spectacular Scene of the Year accolade at the 2004 British Soap Awards. Ellie has been reviewed as a selfish character by television critics, with others branding her as high maintenance and fiercely independent.