Mind Your Back, Mitchell!

Mica Paris on playing villain Ellie and taking on the Square’s ultimate bad boy…

- Alison Slade

There’s a new baddie on the block in Walford, and she means business. Ellie Nixon has pitched up following the death of her son and daughter-in-law, who were the adoptive parents of Phil Mitchell and Denise Fox’s child, Raymond.

Phil now wants custody of Raymond, but ruthless Ellie has her own agenda. We caught up with star Mica Paris, 51, to find out more.

Mica, you’re known as a singer and presenter rather than an actor. How did you get the part?

I’d just finished doing Fame: The Musical, and then my agent said, ‘I’ve got some auditions for you, and one is for EastEnders.’ I thought, ‘They’re not gonna go for someone like me,’ and when I got the part, I was like, ‘What?!’ But bit by bit, I found out about the character and I thought, ‘Yeah, that makes sense.’ I think Ellie needs to be played by someone who has lived, and I’ve seen and done it all.

Ellie is terrifying – have you based her on anyone?