Laura Beale

"Laura Dunn" redirects here. For the Australian rower, see Laura Dunn (rower).

Laura Beale
EastEnders character
Portrayed byHannah Waterman
Duration2000–2004
First appearanceEpisode 1909
17 February 2000 (2000-02-17)
Last appearanceEpisode 2720
30 April 2004 (2004-04-30)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced byJohn Yorke
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Childminder
  • Chip shop assistant
  • Entrepreneur
FamilyBeale
FatherNorman Dunn
MotherEdwina Dunn
HusbandIan Beale (2001–2004)
SonsBobby Beale
StepsonsPeter Beale
Steven Beale (adoptive)
StepdaughtersLucy Beale

Laura Beale (also Dunn) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Hannah Waterman. She first appeared on 17 February 2000 and became a regular on the programme until the character was killed off on 30 April 2004.

Following her debut in the show's 15th anniversary special, Laura embarked on a relationship with local businessman Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt); he originally hired her to care for his children, but they later got married in 2001, after Laura helped Ian overcome his financial bankruptcy ordeal. Their marriage soon fell apart, however, after Laura had an off-screen one-night stand with next-door neighbour Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves), before giving birth to a baby named Bobby, whose father turned out to be Ian, despite her initial belief that Garry was the father due to Ian's vasectomy. Soon afterwards, Laura was placed in dire financial straits after a feud with her sworn enemy, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). The follow-up to their last confrontation resulted Laura's death, when she fatally tripped down the stairs, in a departure that became listed as one of EastEnders' best exits by Virgin Media.

This was Waterman's second role in the soap, having appeared in 1997 as a HIV patient.