Former EastEnders favourite Milly Zero has undergone a dramatic transformation for a guest appearance on the BBC period drama Call the Midwife, leaving viewers and former co-stars stunned by her unrecognisable portrayal of a struggling expectant mother.
Disturbing Scenes in Poplar
The BBC's long-running period drama, now set in 1971 during its fifteenth season, featured particularly distressing scenes during Sunday's episode as Sister Julienne, played by Jenny Agutter, responded to an emergency call from a rundown Poplar flat.
Agutter's character discovered a woman named Lana in active labour, living in squalid conditions with poor hygiene, who defiantly rejected medical assistance despite being in clear distress. "I don't need a midwife," Lana screamed through her pain as Sister Julienne attempted to provide care.
Violent Confrontation Following Birth
Following the safe delivery of her daughter, Lana's behaviour took an alarming turn. The new mother immediately lit a cigarette and demanded to hold her newborn. When Sister Julienne refused this request, Lana violently attacked the nun, ripping off her wimple and leaving visible scratches across her neck.
The harrowing storyline represents another challenging narrative for the series, which has recently tackled difficult subjects including child neglect, modern slavery, the Women's Liberation Movement, and the ongoing development of the National Health Service during this historical period.
From Walford Tearaway to Period Drama
The role of Lana was played by Milly Zero, best known to television audiences for her three-year portrayal of Dotty Cotton in EastEnders. Zero played the rebellious teenage granddaughter of legendary character Dot Cotton and daughter of villain Nick Cotton, becoming a familiar face on the BBC soap until her departure in December 2022.
Her EastEnders exit saw Dotty discovering her late grandmother had left her Albert Square house to step-granddaughter Sonia Fowler, played by Natalie Cassidy. After threatening to burn the property down and being saved by her uncle Rocky Cotton, Dotty departed Walford in a taxi following heated confrontations.
Industry Recognition and Fan Reaction
Zero took to Instagram to express her excitement about the Call the Midwife role, sharing behind-the-scenes photographs and writing: "What an incredible character to get my (very brown) teeth into! Such a blessing to get to play Lana in such an iconic show."
The post received immediate support from her former EastEnders colleagues, with Shiv Jalota (who plays Vinny Panesar) commenting with applause emojis, Clair Norris (Bernie Taylor) exclaiming "Yes Mills!!!" with heart emojis, and Balvinder Sopal (Suki) adding congratulations for being part of "such an incredible show."
Fans expressed similar astonishment at Zero's transformation, with one commenting: "Omg I didn't even recognise you!!" while another remarked: "I didn't recognise you till this insta .. brilliant poor sister x." A particularly colourful response noted: "I SAID TO MY NAN YOU LOOK LIKE CHAPPEL ROAN ON BENEFITS."
Career Development Post-EastEnders
Since leaving the BBC soap three years ago, Milly Zero has secured several notable television roles demonstrating her range as an actress. In addition to her Call the Midwife appearance, she has taken a guest role in the Netflix comedy-drama Too Much and played Lisa Gillespie in the long-running BBC medical series Doctors.
Her transformation for the Call the Midwife role represents a significant departure from her EastEnders character, showcasing her ability to inhabit dramatically different roles and physical appearances for period drama work.
Call the Midwife continues to air on Sunday evenings at 8pm on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, maintaining its position as one of the BBC's most successful and critically acclaimed period dramas.
