Donna Ludlow
Encyclopedia
Donna Ludlow is a fictional character
from the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by Matilda Ziegler
between 1987-1989. Donna was scripted as a troubled individual, desperate for attention, but shunned by almost all who encountered her. In her storyline, after finding out she was conceived from rape
and then rejected by her mother, Donna set herself on a path of self-destruction. She turned to manipulation, blackmail
and prostitution
to fund her drug-habit, before choking to death on her own vomit in 1989.
, June Watkins, visits Kathy to inform her that Donna wants to meet her. Kathy refuses, telling June she wants nothing to do with Donna, but does not disclose the circumstances of Donna's conception. Undeterred, Donna moves to Walford to be near her mother. For the first year she keeps her identity a secret, compulsively lying to substantiate her fake persona. She works as a barmaid at The Queen Vic and takes to anonymously ringing up the Samaritans, where Kathy volunteers, but Kathy starts to suspect the caller's identity. Kathy becomes more concerned when Donna shows interest in her son Ian
, and Ian seems to be attracted to her, not realizing that she's his half-sister. When Kathy tells Donna to stay away from Ian, Donna finally tells her who she is. Mortified, Kathy orders Donna to leave, telling her she wants nothing to do with her.
Hurt by such rejection, Donna retaliates by causing as much trouble for Kathy as she can. She continues to flirt with Ian, forcing Kathy to confess her identity to him; then she hints to Kathy's husband Pete
that Kathy might be having an affair with James Wilmott-Brown. Finally Kathy informs Donna that she was the product of rape. Unhinged by this bombshell, Donna spends the rest of the year in a downward spiral. She stalks Simon Wicks
who only uses her for sex
, and when he pits her against his new fling, Cindy Williams
, the subsequent fights culminate in her losing her job at The Vic; by August 1988 she is homeless. Michelle Fowler
and Sharon Watts take pity and allow her to stay with them, but after Donna tries to come between them, they throw her out. By September she is living in an abandoned squat
on the Square.
After Donna's manipulations are discovered, the community shuns her. Depressed, she starts using heroin with the other junkies dossing in her squat. She is soon addicted and stealing to fund her habit; by December 1988 she turns to extortion. One day, Ali Osman
comes into the Vic to celebrate his sizable win at the horses. His boasting attracts Donna's attention and she takes advantage of his inebriation to seduce him. Then she threatens to tell his wife Sue
about the one-night stand unless he supplies her with regular monetary instalments. But by February 1989 that well runs so dry that Donna resorts to prostitution, agreeing to sleep with her drug-dealer, Spike Murphy, in exchange for smack. Spike brings 5 of his sleazy friends along and a vicious gang rape is only stopped by Rod Norman's
chance appearance. Following this, Rod tries unsuccessfully to get Donna off heroin.
Next Donna tells the community that her adoptive parents have been killed in a car crash, and soon a fund is building up to "help" her. Then a woman enters the pub and announces that she is Donna's adoptive mother and that Rod had summoned her to the Square. Except for Dot Cotton, who takes her in, everyone shuns Donna; she promptly spreads rumors that Colin Russell has AIDS
and tells Sue Osman about her affair with Ali, destroying their marriage. These are hollow victories, and after Rod abandons her and Kathy rejects her yet again, Donna overdoses on heroin and chokes to death on her own vomit. Donna is found dead by Dot on 13 April 1989. Few mourn her passing.
Years later, in 2011, Dot remembers and mentions her when she's trying to help Rainie Cross
(Tanya Franks
).
). According to Kathy's backstory, scripted prior to the events of the programme, she had been raped as a teenager and gave her baby up for adoption: Donna was this child, now grown. Her first appearance had been primed by Donna's godmother visiting Kathy, who had told her she wanted no contact with Donna. Thus, according to writer Colin Brake
, Donna's entrance was meticulous planned to avoid giving away the secret of her identity too soon. Scriptwriters quickly established her as a compulsive liar, telling different people different versions of her past--never the truth. Despite this, Brake has claimed that "some quick viewers still guessed the truth" earlier than had been hoped. When Donna's real identity was revealed onscreen in April 1988, Kathy's immediate rejection of her sent her narrative spiraling downward.
Author Hilary Kingsley has described Donna as "the complete reverse of her mother. Cunning and dishonest, she was ready to steal, cheat, and prostitute herself to gain some sort of place in Albert Square society". Kingsley added: "Donna used everyone" and was a "good manipulator". Author Kate Lock branded Donna "pinched-faced [...] a proficient liar and cheat [who] became truly evil." Writer Rupert Smith has classified Donna as a "Lost Girl" who could not "take the rough and tumble of life in the East End... [a] broken blossom," and tragic and a loon.
One of the issues Donna's character dealt with was drug abuse. Brake states that for the first time EastEnders told a complete drugs story, "with the sad tale of Donna's descent into heroin addiction". He suggested that Matilda Ziegler
"gave the story credibility". The storyline featured Donna's eventual death: following months of manipulation and other antisocial behavior in Walford, Donna was unhinged by addiction on top of Kathy's rejection and took an overdose of heroin. She was found dead, covered in her own vomit. Brake has hailed these final death scenes as "the most powerful anti-drugs images ever screened in the programme". Kate Lock lamented that some characters felt guilty after Donna's death, "but the truth was that Donna's fate seemed to have been sealed from the moment of her disastrous conception." Rupert Smith suggested that Donna was "almost universally unmourned [...] even Kathy seemed to get over her pretty quickly".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, played by Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler is a British television, stage and film actress best known for her roles as Irma Gobb in Mr. Bean and as Donna Ludlow in the long-running BBC1 serial EastEnders and Ruth in the BBC Three sitcom Swiss Toni.-Television career:Matilda Ziegler's first screen role remains her most...
between 1987-1989. Donna was scripted as a troubled individual, desperate for attention, but shunned by almost all who encountered her. In her storyline, after finding out she was conceived from rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and then rejected by her mother, Donna set herself on a path of self-destruction. She turned to manipulation, blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
to fund her drug-habit, before choking to death on her own vomit in 1989.
Backstory
Donna was conceived as a result of rape. 14-year-old Kathy Hills was raped by her music teacher, Marcus Duffy, and gave up her baby girl for adoption. She was adopted by the Ludlow family and named Donna; when she learned that she was an adoptee, she hoped for a reconciliation with Kathy.1987-1989
In 1987, Donna's godmotherGodparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
, June Watkins, visits Kathy to inform her that Donna wants to meet her. Kathy refuses, telling June she wants nothing to do with Donna, but does not disclose the circumstances of Donna's conception. Undeterred, Donna moves to Walford to be near her mother. For the first year she keeps her identity a secret, compulsively lying to substantiate her fake persona. She works as a barmaid at The Queen Vic and takes to anonymously ringing up the Samaritans, where Kathy volunteers, but Kathy starts to suspect the caller's identity. Kathy becomes more concerned when Donna shows interest in her son Ian
Ian Beale
Ian Albert Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the longest-serving character and the only remaining original character to have appeared continuously since the first episode on 19 February 1985...
, and Ian seems to be attracted to her, not realizing that she's his half-sister. When Kathy tells Donna to stay away from Ian, Donna finally tells her who she is. Mortified, Kathy orders Donna to leave, telling her she wants nothing to do with her.
Hurt by such rejection, Donna retaliates by causing as much trouble for Kathy as she can. She continues to flirt with Ian, forcing Kathy to confess her identity to him; then she hints to Kathy's husband Pete
Pete Beale
Peter "Pete" Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Peter Dean. He made his first appearance in the programme's first episode, on 19 February 1985. The character was created by Tony Holland, one of the creators of EasEnders; he was based on a member of...
that Kathy might be having an affair with James Wilmott-Brown. Finally Kathy informs Donna that she was the product of rape. Unhinged by this bombshell, Donna spends the rest of the year in a downward spiral. She stalks Simon Wicks
Simon Wicks
Simon "Wicksy" Wicks is a fictional character from the British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nick Berry between 1985 and 1990. Wicksy was introduced to take on some of the more adult storylines that had been scripted for another character, Mark Fowler; Mark's actor David Scarboro had left...
who only uses her for sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
, and when he pits her against his new fling, Cindy Williams
Cindy Beale
Cindy Beale 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...
, the subsequent fights culminate in her losing her job at The Vic; by August 1988 she is homeless. Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actress Susan Tully.Although she was one of the brighter people in Walford, that didn't stop Michelle making some huge mistakes during her time in Albert Square...
and Sharon Watts take pity and allow her to stay with them, but after Donna tries to come between them, they throw her out. By September she is living in an abandoned squat
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
on the Square.
After Donna's manipulations are discovered, the community shuns her. Depressed, she starts using heroin with the other junkies dossing in her squat. She is soon addicted and stealing to fund her habit; by December 1988 she turns to extortion. One day, Ali Osman
Ali Osman
Ali Osman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nejdet Salih. He was a member of the original EastEnders cast, appearing in the first episode on 19 February 1985. He remained with the show for nearly five years afterwards, making his final appearance on 10 October...
comes into the Vic to celebrate his sizable win at the horses. His boasting attracts Donna's attention and she takes advantage of his inebriation to seduce him. Then she threatens to tell his wife Sue
Sue Osman
Susan "Sue" Osman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sandy Ratcliff. She was one of the serial's original characters, appearing in its first episode on 19 February 1985 and departing on-screen in May 1989. Created by Tony Holland and Julia Smith, Sue was...
about the one-night stand unless he supplies her with regular monetary instalments. But by February 1989 that well runs so dry that Donna resorts to prostitution, agreeing to sleep with her drug-dealer, Spike Murphy, in exchange for smack. Spike brings 5 of his sleazy friends along and a vicious gang rape is only stopped by Rod Norman's
Rod Norman
Rodric "Rod" Norman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Christopher McHallem.Rod the roadie, was a modern day hobo. He dossed in squats and never settled anywhere for long, although he did return to Albert Square several times...
chance appearance. Following this, Rod tries unsuccessfully to get Donna off heroin.
Next Donna tells the community that her adoptive parents have been killed in a car crash, and soon a fund is building up to "help" her. Then a woman enters the pub and announces that she is Donna's adoptive mother and that Rod had summoned her to the Square. Except for Dot Cotton, who takes her in, everyone shuns Donna; she promptly spreads rumors that Colin Russell has AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and tells Sue Osman about her affair with Ali, destroying their marriage. These are hollow victories, and after Rod abandons her and Kathy rejects her yet again, Donna overdoses on heroin and chokes to death on her own vomit. Donna is found dead by Dot on 13 April 1989. Few mourn her passing.
Years later, in 2011, Dot remembers and mentions her when she's trying to help Rainie Cross
Rainie Cross
Lorraine "Rainie" Cross is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Tanya Franks. Rainie was introduced as the drug-addicted sister of Tanya Branning . After having three separate guest stints in 2007 , 2008 and 2010 , she returned on 12 April 2011 as a...
(Tanya Franks
Tanya Franks
Tanya Christine Franks is an English-based actress, writer and producer, who is most known for starring roles on television in Family Affairs, The Bill, Pulling and the role of Rainie Cross in EastEnders. Franks is also the founder of Stock-pot Productions, a theatre and media production company...
).
Creation and development
Introduced in August 1987, Donna was brought in as an apparent stranger, seemingly unrelated to any other characters in the Square. But Donna was actually the illegitimate daughter of one of regular Kathy Beale (Gillian TaylforthGillian Taylforth
Gillian Taylforth is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Kathy Mitchell on the BBC soap opera, EastEnders and as Jackie Pascoe-Webb on ITV's Footballers Wives , but more recently as Sgt. Nikki Wright in ITV's The Bill...
). According to Kathy's backstory, scripted prior to the events of the programme, she had been raped as a teenager and gave her baby up for adoption: Donna was this child, now grown. Her first appearance had been primed by Donna's godmother visiting Kathy, who had told her she wanted no contact with Donna. Thus, according to writer Colin Brake
Colin Brake
Colin Brake is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programs such as Bugs and EastEnders. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series Doctor Who...
, Donna's entrance was meticulous planned to avoid giving away the secret of her identity too soon. Scriptwriters quickly established her as a compulsive liar, telling different people different versions of her past--never the truth. Despite this, Brake has claimed that "some quick viewers still guessed the truth" earlier than had been hoped. When Donna's real identity was revealed onscreen in April 1988, Kathy's immediate rejection of her sent her narrative spiraling downward.
Author Hilary Kingsley has described Donna as "the complete reverse of her mother. Cunning and dishonest, she was ready to steal, cheat, and prostitute herself to gain some sort of place in Albert Square society". Kingsley added: "Donna used everyone" and was a "good manipulator". Author Kate Lock branded Donna "pinched-faced [...] a proficient liar and cheat [who] became truly evil." Writer Rupert Smith has classified Donna as a "Lost Girl" who could not "take the rough and tumble of life in the East End... [a] broken blossom," and tragic and a loon.
One of the issues Donna's character dealt with was drug abuse. Brake states that for the first time EastEnders told a complete drugs story, "with the sad tale of Donna's descent into heroin addiction". He suggested that Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler is a British television, stage and film actress best known for her roles as Irma Gobb in Mr. Bean and as Donna Ludlow in the long-running BBC1 serial EastEnders and Ruth in the BBC Three sitcom Swiss Toni.-Television career:Matilda Ziegler's first screen role remains her most...
"gave the story credibility". The storyline featured Donna's eventual death: following months of manipulation and other antisocial behavior in Walford, Donna was unhinged by addiction on top of Kathy's rejection and took an overdose of heroin. She was found dead, covered in her own vomit. Brake has hailed these final death scenes as "the most powerful anti-drugs images ever screened in the programme". Kate Lock lamented that some characters felt guilty after Donna's death, "but the truth was that Donna's fate seemed to have been sealed from the moment of her disastrous conception." Rupert Smith suggested that Donna was "almost universally unmourned [...] even Kathy seemed to get over her pretty quickly".