Actress to play New Zealanderon soapie

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 15

Actress to play New Zealanderon soapie

From Tony' Verdon, London Correspondent

Just a fortnight after getting her British Actors Equity card former model Lucy Bayler won the part of a New Zealander in “East Enders.

The 24-year-old plays the part of Elizabeth Beale, who turns up in Albert Square witn her on-screen father, Kenny Beale. Although she was born and raised in Britain, Lucy Bayler’s real-life father is a New Zealander, and her mother has lived in New Zealand for almost a decade. Her mother is the Auckland actress Bridgit Armstrong, and her father is the British-based actor Terence Bayler, originally from Wanganui. Lucy Bayler’s chance to join the 8.8.C.’s top-rating serial came with the introduction of two new characters, both said in the storyline to be from New Zealand. Her screen father, Kenny Beale, returns to Albert Square 23 years after being banished to New Zealand by his mother, Lou.

She had dispatched him to the Antipodes after he had been found having an affair with his brother

Pete’s then-wife, Pat. The new characters of Kenny and Elizabeth made their debut on British screens this week, with Kenny and his brother Pete coming to blows over the events of 23 years ago. For Lucy Bayler, the part in the prestigious series comes after five years modelling in London, Tokyo, Milan and Paris.

Although she has lived in London all her life, the actress has spent several long summer months on holiday with her mother in New Zealand. “It is a beautiful place for a holiday, with a great lifestyle, which is so relaxed.

“People there don’t have such a manic existence as people do here in London,” she says. Her character is supposed to be a trainee engineer, and in one of her first lines in the serial she tells her English relatives that “New Zealand is not as sexist as some people here think, you know.”

Although future “East Enders storylines are a closely guarded secret, it is clear Lucy and her screen-father will have a central role over the next few months.