EastEnders star Mica Paris reveals she changed her name to avoid being confused with the soap's character Michelle Fowler... after making her Albert Square debut
She made her soap debut as villain Ellie Nixon in EastEnders on Friday.
And Mica Paris, 51, has revealed that she changed her name because of the soap as she started her career as a singer.
The My One Temptation singer explained how she changed her name to Mica after her name was 'too close' to the character Michelle Fowler played by Susan Tully.
New role: Mica Paris, 51, has revealed on Friday that she changed her name because of the soap as she started her career as a singer
Speaking to The Sun, Mica praised actress Susan, 52, for her role as single-mother Michelle who starred in the soap from 1985 to 1995.
She said: 'My real name is Michelle and she was just so popular back then.
Share this article
'I was just about to get signed at that point. And I thought, 'Oh, she's just too popular and my name will be too close to hers.'
Star: The mother-of-two auditioned for EastEnders in March and found out she had landed the role just one day before the country went in lockdown
The mother-of-two auditioned for EastEnders in March and found out she had landed the role just one day before the country went into lockdown.
She made her debut appearance in Albert Square on Friday and was introduced as Ellie Nixon who has a surprising connection with Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish.
Mica found fame in the 80s with hits such as My One Temptation and Where is the Love. Her debut album So Good was platinum-selling.
Pop icon: Mica found fame in the 80s with hits such as My One Temptation and Where is the Love. Her debut album So Good was platinum-selling (pictured in 2014)
The star revealed how she is a 'proper Londoner' and described how the reason she auditioned for the soap is because it is 'a reflection of the UK'.
Elsewhere, Mica has also been a hit on TV, taking over from Trinny and Susannah for two seasons of What Not To Wear and had a Radio 2 show called Mica Meets.
She has also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, getting to the semi-finals, and has had parts in West End musicals such as Fame.
Emotional: In July, Mica revealed how she was 'overwhelmed with sadness' and broke down crying after visiting a tiny cellar once used to hide slaves who were on the run for a new show
However there have been tough times as well. In 2001 her brother was shot dead after his girlfriend rejected his killer’s advances.
In July, Mica revealed how she was 'overwhelmed with sadness' and broke down crying after visiting a tiny cellar once used to hide slaves who were on the run.
The singer went to the Slave Haven Underground Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, while filming her BBC documentary, The Gospel According To Mica.
She explained how being at the emotional location made her feel 'angry' and reflect on the racism her ancestors had suffered.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Mica said: 'Afterwards, I felt overwhelmed with intense sadness and anger. I couldn't help but cry.'
Mica added: 'It did make me angry. It made me realise what my ancestors had gone through and the racism they suffered and how it was no different for me.
'It's like a Jewish person going to visit Auschwitz. It was no different at all.'
History: The singer explained how the visit 'made me realise what my ancestors had gone through and the racism they suffered' (pictured in March 2019)
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Columbia protester calls Jewish donor 'a f***ing Nazi'
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
