Max Murray stars as Joel Marshall in EastEnders and the young actor is no stranger to the spotlight as his mum is a famous actress who has also appeared in the BBC soap.
EastEnders’ fresh face Joel Marshall is in the thick of a chilling new storyline after his worried dad Ross exposed the teen’s dark past.
Joel made his Walford debut earlier this year, arriving with his dad Ross (played by Alex Walkinshaw) and his partner Vicki Fowler (portrayed by Alice Haig), who returned from Australia after Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) death.
Initially, Ross admitted to being heavily in debt due to Joel, having borrowed a hefty sum to pay off people. However, last week, Joel’s dad laid bare his past, leaving Vicki stunned.
Ross flew off the handle when he came home to find his son getting intimate with fellow student Avani Nandra-Hart, played by Aaliyah James, 24.
Vicki was left puzzled as to why Ross was so upset about the teens’ sexual activity, but he remained tight-lipped and evaded discussing the situation.
However, Ross’s worst nightmares were realised when he found out that the devious teen had secretly filmed Avani during their intimate moments without her knowledge.
Joel then shared the footage with his best mate Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) in a bid to impress him. The father-son duo’s big secret was then unveiled to Vicki, revealing that this wasn’t Joel’s first instance of predatory behaviour, reports Plymouth Live.
It emerged that Joel had taken an upskirt photo of a girl back in Australia, forcing Ross to pay off her family to prevent them from involving the police.
EastEnders is delving into some serious drama as it introduces the complex character of Joel, played by Max Murray. Fans are eager to see how the show will unfold the sensitive topic of toxic masculinity with its storyline.
Newcomer Max Murray, believed to be 17, though his exact age isn’t confirmed. Discussing his new role, Max shared: “It’s an absolute privilege and honour to be joining such a wonderful production full of a lovely cast and crew.”
Excited to bring Joel’s story to fans, he said: “I’m really looking forward to introducing Joel to EastEnders viewers and telling his story.”
For Max, stepping onto Albert Square marks his first significant acting gig, but he’s no stranger to a showbiz family.
His mother, Gina Murray, started her TV journey on The Bill in 1994 and has graced our screens on hit shows like Doctors, Judge John Deed, and Witless.
Recently, she starred as Lesley Stobbart in ITV’s The Hunt for Raoul Moat in 2023. Even EastEnders isn’t new to her; she briefly appeared in 2014 as Helen for an episode.
She’s also dazzled on stages across the UK in musicals from Mamma Mia to Chicago and beyond.
The roots of talent run deep in Max’s family. With a grandmother like Grazina Frame, a regular on The Morecambe and Wise Show from ’71 to ’74 and appearances in shows like Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and a grandfather Mitch Murray famed for songwriting—the star power is undeniable.
