| Hattie Tavernier | |||||||||||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Michelle Gayle (1990–1993) Uncredited (1994) | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1990–1994 | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 565 5 July 1990 | ||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 947 24 February 1994 | ||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Michael Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||
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Hattie Tavernier is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Gayle between 5 July 1990 and 21 December 1993. Hattie and her family were introduced in July 1990 by producer Michael Ferguson. The Taverniers were the first collective black family to join the soap at the same time. Portrayed as an intelligent, independent young woman, Hattie remained in the serial after the departures of many of her screen family, covering issues such as miscarriage and sexual harassment.
Michelle Gayle quit the role in 1993 to embark on a pop career. Gayle filmed no official exit storyline for Hattie. Her last scene aired on 21 December 1993, with Hattie departing to visit her parents off-screen in Norwich for the Christmas holidays. Dialogue between characters at this time suggested that it was a temporary departure; however, Gayle left to pursue a singing career and did not return to the role. The character was hastily written out, appearing briefly one last time in February 1994 to show that Hattie decided to remain in Norwich. In the scene, Hattie's former lover Steve Elliot (Mark Monero) witnessed Hattie in the distance with another man. This fleeting appearance was played by a non-speaking and uncredited extra.