Susan Tully – EastEnders – Age 53

Actors often leave the soap operas that put them on the map to show off their acting chops in other projects. Not Susan Tully. After portraying Michelle Fowler from EastEnders’ first season in 1985 until 1995, she realized that she was more comfortable behind the camera rather than in front of it.

She directed several episodes of the BBC One soap before moving on to work on other British programs. Her latest foray in directing is a four-episode stint for C.B. Strike in 2020. Tully’s EastEnders character made a return to the show in 2016 but was recast after she turned down offers to act again.