EastEnders fans were delighted by the news of Ruby Allen’s (Louisa Lytton) return to Albert Square earlier this year.
Her return comes amid a number of others ahead of the show’s 40th anniversary next February.
This week, Ruby is set to return to Albert Square after three years, and she brings plenty of drama with her, as we would expect.
But who was Ruby, and what else has actress Louisa Lytton starred in?
Who is Ruby Allen?
Ruby Allen is the daughter of iconic gangster Johnny Allen – and she has certainly caused her fair share of trouble during her time in Albert Square.
Ruby and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) were best friends for years. However, their relationship broke down when Ruby started seeing Martin Fowler (James Bye), Stacey’s ex.
It was recently revealed that she had given birth to Martin’s baby in prison, and she is soon set to return Walford when she finds her son’s birth certificate missing.
However, it is safe to say that there may be some changes to the Ruby we once knew, as actress Louisa Lytton revealed.
‘I think her priorities in life have changed. I think she’s finally got purpose,’ she said.
‘She’s had a baby and it’s changed her outlook and purpose and she isn’t the lying, manipulative character we were left with.
‘She’s lost everything, she’s lost all her money, her finances, her house. She’s starting from scratch but she’s happy. When we first see her come back she’s happy with her lot.’
Why did Louisa Lytton leave EastEnders?
In order to facilitate Louisa’s maternity leave, Ruby was sent to prison in November 2021 after being wrongly accused by the Slater family of running a cannabis farm.
Shortly before Ruby’s departure, she claimed to be pregnant with Martin’s child, but he refused to believe her after discovering all of the lies Ruby told that led to Stacey going to prison.
Speaking about her return, Louisa said: ‘I am thrilled to have been asked back to the Square to revisit Ruby once more, and to shed some light on what the past three years have been like for her during her time away from Walford.
‘I’ve always loved playing Ruby as there is never a dull moment and I cannot wait for everyone to see what Ruby has in store.’
What else has Louisa Lytton starred in?
35-year-old Lytton was born in Camden and studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone.
She’s been acting since 1997 when she was in an episode of The Bill.
In 1999, she appeared as a little girl in an episode of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders’ Let Them Eat Cake, and in 2002, she was Emma Watson’s body double in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
She first appeared as Ruby Allen in EastEnders from 2005 until 2006, when she left in the back of a taxi after her father’s funeral and a falling out with Stacey.
Also in 2006, she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and made it through to the quarter finals.
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Between her last EastEnders appearance and now, Lytton returned to The Bill in 2007 to play the recurring character PC Beth Green until 2009.
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In 2010, she appeared in an episode of Casualty, and in 2014, she had a recurring role in Edge of Heaven.
She then came back to play Ruby in September 2018, close to 12 years after she’d been on the show as a teenager.
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This article was first published on September 4, 2024.
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