Former EastEnders star Ben Hardy to make grand return to the BBC in gritty new drama… after dazzling Hollywood with Bohemian Rhapsody role
He famously swapped Walford for Hollywood, going on to star in films such as X-Men: Apocalypse and the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody.
And former EastEnders star Ben Hardy is set to make a grand return to the BBC to star in a gritty new drama called The Girl before.
The actor, 30, who played Peter Beale in the soap, will reportedly play a character called Simon in the physiological thriller alongside fellow EastEnders alumni Jessica Plummer, who’ll portray his on-screen girlfriend Emma.
New role: Former EastEnders star Ben Hardy is set to make a grand return to the BBC to star in a gritty new drama called The Girl before
Ben joins previously announced cast members David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in The Girl Before, which will also stream on HBO Max.
The four-part series is based on the novel of the same name by J.P. Delaney.
It tells the story of Jane (Mbatha-Raw), who moves into a stunning, minimalist property called One Folgate Street, which is designed by an enigmatic architect (Oyelowo).
A catch to living in the house is that the architect demands that the inhabitants obey a strict set of rules, with Jane soon coming to realise that the previous inhabitant (The Girl Before, played by Plummer) went through the same strange experience.
The way he was: The actor, 30, who played Peter Beale in the soap, will reportedly play a character called Simon in the physiological thriller (pictured as Peter Beale in EastEnders)
As the two women’s experiences entwine, Jane begins to wonder if she’ll meet the same fate as her predecessor.
Since saying goodbye to Albert Square, Ben has bagged numerous roles in films and shows including Mary Shelley, Only The Brave, 6 Underground and The Woman In White.
His soap character Peter had a tumultuous time in Albert Square in the last couple of years, most notably with his sister Lucy being murdered by their brother Bobby.
Co-star: Ben will appear alongside fellow EastEnders alumni Jessica Plummer, who’ll portray his on-screen girlfriend Emma
Cast: Ben joins previously announced cast members David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in The Girl Before, which will also stream on HBO Max
Peter left the Square for a new life in New Zealand, with his ex Lauren Branning eventually joining him with their son Louie.
Meanwhile, his personal life recently took a knock as he’s said to have split from girlfriend Olivia Cooke during lockdown.
The former EastEnders star and the actress, 27, are said to have called it quits last year after their relationship naturally ended soon after Britain entered lockdown.
Fame: He famously swapped Walford for Hollywood, going on to star in films such as X-Men: Apocalypse and the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody
The pair met and fell in love on the set of their comedy crime thriller Pixie and were first pictured together in February.
A source told The Sun: ‘Olivia and Ben were smitten to begin with but the intensity soon fizzled out.
‘They’re at pivotal points in their acting careers and just couldn’t make it work.’
Break-up: Meanwhile, his personal life recently took a knock as he’s said to have split from girlfriend Olivia Cooke during lockdown (pictured in 2019)