Laura Beale (also Dunn) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Hannah Waterman. She first appeared on 17 February 2000 and became a regular on the programme until the character was killed-off on 30 April 2004. Following her debution in the show's 15th anniversary special, Laura embarked on a relationship with local businessman Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt); he originally hired her to care for his children, but they later got married in 2001 after Laura helped Ian overcome his financial bankruptcy ordeal. Their marriage soon fell apart, however, after Laura had an off-screen one-night stand with next-door neighbour Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) before giving birth to a baby named Bobby - whose father turned out to be Ian despite her initial belief that Garry was the father due to Ian's vasectomy. Soon afterwards, Laura underwent dire financial straits after a feud with her sworn enemy Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). The follow-up of their last confrontation saw Laura's death when she fatally tripped down the stairs, in a departure that became listed as one of EastEnders best exits by Virgin Media. This was Waterman's second role in the soap, having appeared in 1997 as an HIV patient. Storylines Laura Dunn first appeared in Albert Square when she is employed by local businessman Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to work as a nanny for his children, Peter (Joseph Shade), Lucy (Casey Anne Rothery) and Steven Beale (Edward Savage). She becomes attracted to Ian but her attempts to get closer to him are unnoticed. Laura is protective of Ian and eventually he starts to see her as loyal and faithful, but mostly ends up using her for sex. Eventually, Laura demands more commitment and calls off their arrangement when he refuses. She later confided to Ian's next-door neighbour Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) about this and they kiss; Ian is furious when he finds out and threatens to sack Laura. She later resigns and plans to leave Ian, but changes her mind upon learning that Ian is declared bankrupt due to his monetary troubles; she decides to stay for the sake of Ian's children and they become a couple. Laura tries to raise money to buy the fish and chip shop so they can run it together, secretly borrowing money from Ian's former wife Mel Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite). Eventually, Ian proposes marriage to Laura; she accepts despite facing opposition from