EASTENDERS fans were stunned after spotting an iconic soap star in an Australian TV ad following her move Down Under.
The BBC soap alum appeared in Albert Square from 2000 until leaving in 2004.
Hannah Waterman portrayed Laura Beale – who fans may recall for her memorable death scene.
Over two decades on, viewers were shocked to see the actress pop up in an Australian TV ad.
The 49-year-old featured in an advert promoting a casino game titled KenoGo.
Writing online, one fan said: “So I’m living in Australia currently and this advert keeps popping up on the TV and now social media.
“Is it Laura Beale’s actress Hannah Waterman?”
Another replied: “Yeah looks like it, and I read somewhere that she moved to Australia a few years ago.”
While a third chimed in: “Yeah Hannah Waterman has lived in Australia for years. She was in Home and Away recently.”
Hannah is the daughter of late actor Dennis Waterman – who passed away back in 2022.
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While in EastEnders, her character Laura became Ian Beale’s third wife.
She welcomed Bobby in 2003 although initially believed her lover Garry Hobbs was the father – given Ian had a vasectomy.
However, it later transpired that Ian was indeed Bobby’s biological father.
The character’s final scenes saw her clash with Janine Butcher – while Laura fatally tripped down the stairs.
Late last year, it was announced Hannah had signed up to play a magistrate in Home and Away.
She had last acted in the UK for a 2013 episode of Doctors – but had appeared in a string of Australian dramas.
A source said: “Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she’s still acting.
She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows it could mean she finds her way back more permanently.”
The role came two years after Hannah tied the knot to former The Bill star husband Huw Higginson.
Huw posted a celebratory shot showing their special day in October 2022 as they posed with their son Jack, 11, on a boat in Sydney.
The Bill actor gushed in his caption: “Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days.”
