It’s a casting twist that even the actress didn’t see coming. When Alice Haig joined EastEnders earlier this year, she didn’t realize she’d be stepping into one of the most iconic legacies in the soap’s history — until the day before her scenes began shooting.

Her role? None other than Vicki Fowler, the daughter of Den Watts and Michelle Fowler — a character steeped in EastEnders lore and last seen on-screen over two decades ago.

Alice’s debut came during a dramatic funeral arc for Martin Fowler, and her arrival alongside Ross Marshall and his son Joel marked a new chapter for the Branning and Fowler families. But behind the scenes, Alice’s experience was nothing short of surreal. In a revealing interview on Matthew Rolland’s Isolation YouTube series, she opened up about the whirlwind nature of her casting — and how she didn’t know who she was playing until barely 24 hours before her first shoot.

“In the audition, it’s all code names,” Alice explained. “You don’t know who you’re auditioning for. Obviously, there’s a general vibe, but not the actual character. I only found out I was playing Vicki the day before I started filming. It was a bit of a bonkers moment.”

For longtime fans of the soap, Vicki Fowler is far more than just another character. She was born into two of the most dramatic storylines in EastEnders history — the secret affair between Den and Michelle, and the resulting fallout that shaped the Square for years. Previously played by Scarlett Alice Johnson, Vicki was known for her brash American accent, her fiery attitude, and her eventual departure to Australia with Spencer Moon in 2004.

That legacy wasn’t lost on Alice Haig. If anything, it raised the stakes.

“When I found out who I was playing, I was a bit alarmed,” she admitted. “I thought, ‘Do I need to sound like her? Do I need to mimic her?’ But the showrunners were clear — they wanted me to bring my own energy to the role.”

And bring it she did. Instead of copying Scarlett Johnson’s portrayal, Alice leaned into the character’s roots, studying the personalities of Vicki’s parents, Michelle Fowler and Den Watts, to build her interpretation from the ground up.

“I focused on who her parents were — Michelle’s strength and Den’s charisma. That helped shape Vicki far more than trying to be a carbon copy of someone else,” Alice shared. “Scarlett was brilliant, but completely different to me. It would’ve been impossible to imitate her and still be authentic.”

That authenticity is precisely what viewers have started to embrace. Alice’s Vicki is grounded, fresh, and emotionally layered — a woman shaped by her family’s legacy but determined to make her own mark. And fans have taken notice. Reactions online have ranged from nostalgic approval to curious speculation about how Vicki’s return will affect the Fowler clan and the wider EastEnders universe.

While many were surprised to see the character return, others pointed to recent trends in the soap’s recasting strategy. EastEnders has never shied away from giving iconic characters a new face. Ben Mitchell alone has been portrayed by six different actors. And with James Bye’s exit as Martin Fowler, the show seems poised to reinvent more of its classic roles.

Alice’s refreshingly honest take on watching herself back on screen adds another layer of relatability. “It’s weird at first,” she laughed. “You’re like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t look like that!’ But then you get used to it. I’ve become less vain, I think.”

Her performance has already begun sparking speculation about long-term storylines. Will Vicki clash with the remaining Fowlers? Could her return trigger long-buried secrets about Den or Michelle? And what’s her dynamic with Ross and Joel really hiding?

The casting process behind the scenes might have been shrouded in secrecy, but the result is a character reborn — not just revived. Vicki Fowler has returned, not as a shadow of her former self, but as a new force altogether.

There’s something undeniably powerful about seeing a character like Vicki re-enter the fray after decades off-screen. Her return is more than nostalgia — it’s a statement. And Alice Haig, armed with instinct, respect for history, and a dose of last-minute adrenaline, has made sure that statement lands with impact.

As EastEnders continues to build tension across the Square, one thing is certain: Vicki Fowler is back. And this time, she’s got her own story to tell.