Michelle Gayle says she could go back to \'EastEnders\'.
The 48-year-old singer-and-actress played Hattie Tavernier on the BBC One soap from 1990 to 1993 and her alter-ego was last seen on screens in December 1993 when she left to visit her parents in Norwich, with Michelle departing the show to pursue a singing career.
She said: "I was sent to Norwich, she\'s been there for 20-something years. So, effectively, I suppose I could [go back].
"You never know."
Hattie did appear once more in 1994 to show the character had decided to remain in East Anglia but she was only seen from a distance and the part was played by an uncredited extra.
Michelle\'s character was part of the Taverniers, who were the first black family on \'EastEnders\', and the star feels great she has been a trailblazer in several projects.
Speaking on \'Lorraine\', she added: "It was [trailblazing], the first black family. It\'s been almost 30 years.
"It\'s so nice throughout my career to be the first to do something.
"I was also the first black Belle in \'Beauty and the Beast\' in the West End.
"And it\'s so nice to be part of something that is showing the changing world.
"We\'re reflecting the Britain that is now, and I\'m a part of that."
Last month, Michelle admitted it felt like a "pipe dream" when she landed a role on \'EastEnders\'.
She said: "\'EastEnders\' had always been forward-thinking with individual black characters but it felt like a pipe dream to have a whole family represented on prime-time BBC One in the early 90s.
"Our community was so excited. Everyone wanted us to fit their mould of what they thought a black family should look like, but I think the BBC made a huge effort to present us authentically."
15 June 2020 - 11:00 AM
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