Belinda Owusu returns to EastEnders as Libby Fox, making a surprise appearance in Walford to support her mum Denise Fox amid her cancer diagnosis
Libby Fox first arrived in EastEnders 20 years ago (Image: BBC)
EastEnders star Belinda Owusu has made a comeback to the BBC One soap.
During Tuesday’s (June 16) episode of the BBC soap, Libby Fox, played by Belinda, returned to Albert Square after a nine-year absence from Walford.
Emotional scenes followed Libby’s mum, Denise Fox (Diane Parish), as she courageously took the step to begin treatment after receiving a blood cancer diagnosis.
The mother-of-three had the support of her husband, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), as she readied herself to embark on the demanding, potentially life-saving treatment, while her daughter, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), rang her younger sister, Libby, to deliver the heartbreaking news.
As Denise got ready to depart for a four-week hospital stay, she received an unexpected surprise when Libby appeared to greet her mum, who was delighted by their unexpected reunion.
Libby vowed to visit the hospital the following day and confirmed she would remain for however long Denise required her presence, reports OK!.
Who is Libby in EastEnders?
Libby (Belinda Owusu) made her Albert Square debut in May 2006 when the Fox family joined the BBC soap. Just four years later, the studious youngster departed Walford to pursue her studies at Oxford University, bringing immense pride to her mother, Denise.
She briefly returned in 2014 before departing for good in 2017. In 2006, Libby’s biological father was Owen Turner (Lee Ross), who attempted to take her life during an acrimonious custody dispute.
Owen met his end at the hands of Chelsea’s father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet), who concealed his body beneath a tree. Over the years, Libby made occasional appearances before departing permanently in 2017.
However, audiences last saw her this January, when she featured in the flash-forward episode set for New Year’s Day 2027, leaving viewers questioning the motive behind her comeback.
Who plays Libby Fox?
Actress Belinda Owusu takes on the role of Libby Fox in the BBC drama. The 37-year-old from Hackney, East London, is equally renowned for her portrayal of Nicky McKendrick in the BBC medical drama Holby City between 2017 and 2022.
Throughout her stint on Holby City, Belinda shared scenes with her real-life infant daughter, who took on the role of Juliet, the adopted on-screen child of Amelia and Eli Ebrahimi (Lucy Briggs-Owen and Davood Ghadami).
Speaking to What to Watch, Belinda disclosed this family connection when questioned about filming such emotionally challenging scenes.
Belinda said: “It was really difficult because Juliet is [played by] my baby. It made it a little harder because Nicky’s relationship with Juliet is quite different to mine. I was gushing over every single gurgle my baby was doing.”
She added, “In hindsight, I’m so glad we did it because those are days I got to be with her that I wouldn’t have.”
In 2019, the character also appeared in one episode of Casualty, while Belinda’s other television work includes Doctor Who, Trigger Point, Only Child, and The Bombing of Pan Am 103.
What happened to Belinda Owusu’s brother?
Belinda endured the devastating loss of her younger brother in a tragic attack in October 2016.
Ziggy Worrell-Owusu was fatally stabbed just hours after celebrating his 19th birthday, leaving Belinda and her entire family utterly heartbroken and in shock.
At the time, a Met Police spokesperson stated: “Police were called at about 20 to 1 in the morning to the Basement Shisha Lounge in Goodmayes Road, where they found Ziggy fatally injured.
“He was taken to an east London hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, officers and friends who came to Ziggy’s aid at the scene, he didn’t recover from his injury and died shortly after arrival.”
Despite her commitment to her role on EastEnders, Belinda struggled deeply with the anguish of losing her beloved sibling. Speaking to the Evening Standard shortly following Ziggy’s death, she made a heartfelt appeal to track down her little brother’s killer.
She said, “My brother went along with some friends to celebrate his birthday, and this just happened. He was not involved in any fighting, but we know there were lots of different groups of friends there, and not everyone knew each other.
“Someone decided they were going to bring a weapon in. It is hard to imagine anyone doing that, let alone deciding to do this to someone. We are not completely sure if it was their intention to hurt him or if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he was not fighting.
“There were lots of arguments going on that night, but Ziggy was a good kid. If he saw someone in trouble, he would help them. He had just started out, he had a 19th birthday, and he was just starting to become an adult, and suddenly, it was all gone. It is still a shock.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
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