Cindy Beale

Cindy Beale
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Michelle Collins
Introduced by	Julia Smith (1988) Leonard Lewis (1992) Jane Harris (1997)
Duration	1988–90, 1992–98
First appearance	10 May 1988
Last appearance	10 April 1998
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Date of birth	10 May 1968
Date of death	5 November 1998
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Family Husband Ian Beale (1989–97) Father Tom Williams Mother Bev Williams Sisters Gina Williams Sons Steven Beale Peter Beale Daughters Lucy Beale Cindy Williams Aunts Pam

Cindy Beale (née Williams) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Collins.

Cindy always had an eye for the lotharios of Walford and despite trying to settle down repeatedly with the more reliable Ian Beale, she was unable to remain faithful to him. She had a selfish streak, often more concerned about her own needs than her family's. She often lied and schemed, particularly where men were concerned.

Storylines

Cindy arrives in Albert Square in May 1988, working on her mother's market stall selling hats. She dates barman Simon Wicks, who is also seeing Donna Ludlow, leading Cindy and Donna to bicker for Simon's attention. However Cindy grows tired of Simon's womanising, and although he is falling for her, she turns her attentions to his stepbrother Ian Beale, who is becoming a successful entrepreneur. Initially she is only trying to make Simon jealous, but she and Ian begin a relationship and by February 1989, they announce their engagement. Meanwhile, Simon retaliates by resuming a relationship with Sharon Watts. However, while working together late one night at The Queen Victoria public house, Cindy and Simon have sex, a tryst that leaves Cindy pregnant. Cindy is prepared to leave Ian for Simon, but he does not want to be tied down or upset his family, so he rejects Cindy. With nowhere left to turn, Cindy begrudgingly marries Ian and pretends he is her baby's father. She gives birth to Steven Beale in December 1989 and keeps his paternity secret. However, shortly after the birth, Simon develops paternal feelings towards his son and convinces Cindy to leave Ian for him. Cindy devastates Ian by telling him he is not Steven's father, and a feud erupts when he realises that Simon is. Ian's behaviour grows erratic; after failing to take his own life, he decides to ruin Simon's instead. Simon eventually decides that leaving Walford is the only option and he Cindy and Steven depart, leaving Ian broken.

Cindy as she appeared in 1990.

In 1992, Ian discovers that Simon has abandoned his family, leaving Cindy to bring Steven up alone in poverty. Ian persuades Cindy to return to Walford so they can bring up Steven together. Cindy is hesitant initially but agrees. Despite hostility from Ian's family and friends, the couple remain together and Cindy falls pregnant in 1993 with twins. Richard Cole attempts to have a fling with Cindy, and retaliates to her rejection by spreading a rumour that he is the father of her twins. Everyone is quick to believe him, and Ian and Cindy almost split up, but the truth finally comes out, and Lucy and Peter (named after Ian's late father Pete) are born in December 1993. Married life and motherhood takes its toll on Cindy and she begins two affairs, first with Matt the lifeguard in 1994, and then with Simon Wicks' brother, David, in 1995. Cindy and David rendezvous in secret for a year. Cindy eventually falls in love, growing less and less tolerant of Ian. Suspecting Cindy is cheating, Ian hires a private investigator, who films Cindy and David in a clinch. Ian vows to take Cindy to court for custody of their children. With David losing interest in Cindy, she decides to take drastic action and in October 1996, she hires a hitman to kill Ian. At the last minute, she changes her mind and decides to sort things out amicably, but it is too late, and Ian is shot by an armed man in a passing car, collapsing in a pool of blood in front of Cindy. Riddled with guilt, Cindy finds it impossible to look innocent to the police, who suspect that she has something to do with Ian's attempted murder. When David is called in for questioning, Cindy knows it is only a matter of time before she is arrested, so she decides to take her children and flee. With the help of David and Barry Evans, she manages to snatch her sons from their schools. However Lucy, who is ill that day, had gone home early, and Cindy is forced to leave the country without her daughter. David also stays behind, promising Cindy that he would try and get Lucy and join her later, but he never did.

Ian's private investigator tracks Cindy to Italy in 1997. Ian enlists the help of Phil and Grant Mitchell. They find Cindy in Italy and concoct a plan to reclaim Ian's children. Ian confronts Cindy, keeping her busy while Phil and Grant abduct the children. Ian pretends that he still loves Cindy and is willing to forgive her. Desperate to get her daughter back, Cindy goes along with this, however she grows suspicious and contacts the police, but it is too late. Despite a mad police chase, Ian successfully brings his sons back to Walford.

Cindy refuses to give her children up and follows Ian back to Walford with new boyfriend Nick Holland. She takes Ian to court for custody of the children and wins. However, moments after the verdict, Cindy is arrested for attempted murder when Ian's associates persuade the hitman to admit to Cindy's involvement. Cindy is taken into custody and charged. At this time, she is pregnant with her fourth child (this time to boyfriend, Nick). However, after realising Cindy is responsible for attempting to kill Ian, Nick decides he wants nothing more to do with her and leaves her in prison without any money for a lawyer.

On Bonfire Night 1998, Ian receives news that Cindy has died in childbirth. The baby survives, and is named Cindy by Ian, in her mother's honour. Custody is given to Cindy's sister, Gina Williams.

Creation

Cindy was introduced in 1988 in a minor role as a love-interest for Simon Wicks (Nick Berry). She was due to appear in only eleven episodes but the character evolved.^[1] Writer Colin Brake has suggested that Cindy was "the most important character for the future" to be introduced in 1988, despite her low-key entrance.^[2]

Actress Michelle Collins was asked to audition for the part by the soap's co-creator, Julia Smith, who saw her perform on stage.^[3] Collins had previously auditioned for the role of original character Mary Smith, but at the time Julia Smith had decided they did not want that character to be from London, so that role went to Linda Davidson.^[4] Three years on, Collins successfully won the role of Cindy. She has commented, "Cindy arrived for 11 episodes, working on a hat stall and as a tease for Wicksy, but evolved into a much juicier character. [EastEnders creator] Julia Smith said it would change my life. I didn't believe her - how wrong I was."^[3]

See also

• List of soap opera villains

References

1. ^ "Michelle can't hold back the years; Ex-EastEnders stars turns 40... but she is in no mood to celebrate". Evening Times. 25 October 2003. 
2. ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-37057-2. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Michelle Collins avoids 'Cindy look'". Digital spy. 2 February 2010. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a200750/michelle-collins-avoids-cindy-look.html. Retrieved 2010-04-25. 
4. ^ "Cindy May Be Long Dead, But Michelle Collins Remembers her NY Fans". Walford gazette. http://www.wgazette.com/spr05-cindydead.html. Retrieved 2010-04-25. 

External links

• Cindy Beale at BBC Online
• Entry on orange.co.uk's Top 10 TV bitches