Dawn Swann

Dawn Swann
Duration	2005—
First appearance	26 September 2005
Classification	Present; regular
Introduced by	Kate Harwood
In-universe information Occupation Barmaid Father Mike Swann Mother Rosie Miller Brothers Mickey Miller Half-brothers Darren Miller Half-sisters Demi Miller Daughters Summer Swann Grandmothers Nora Swann Uncles Clint Nieces Aleesha Miller

Dawn Swann (previously Miller) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is played by Kara Tointon, and has appeared since 26 September 2005.

Character creation and development

In June 2005, an official BBC press report announed the upcoming arrival of the character Dawn Swann a member of the already established Miller family: "Dawn [...] is Mickey Miller's (Joe Swash) sister. Aged 23, Dawn has been travelling for the last few years and is currently living in France where Mickey goes to see her. A real charmer with a touch of the Footballers' Wives about her, she oozes charisma and sex appeal." It was revealed that Dawn was to be played by actress Kara Tointon. Of her new role, Tointon said, "EastEnders is my dream job and I feel blessed with this opportunity. Dawn is sexy, independent and has this amazing wardrobe – I can't wait to start filming."

The character was introduced in September 2005, in a special week of off-set episodes, filmed on location in France. In the storyline, Mickey travelss to France to meet up with Dawn and discovers that she is living with their estranged father Mike — a conman who ultimately lets his family down and flees, resulting in Dawn's return to Walford. Discussing her role, Kara told the Sunday Mirror in October 2005, "I love playing Dawn. She's so flirty and confident - nothing fazes her and she knows how to flutter her eyelashes and make the men do whatever she wants. But I find it quite embarrassing being labelled a sex symbol. I suppose it's flattering but I really don't see myself like that." Upon moving to Walford, Dawn immediately conned the residents of Albert Square to fund her breast enhancements. As Dawn's breast size is bigger than Kara Tointon's, the actress is required to wear gel-filled padded bras and "chicken fillets".

Dawn has been described as the soap's "tart with a heart" character.

Storylines

Arrival

Dawn's father, Mike Swann, deserted her when she was six. She left home at 16, disapproving of her mother Rosie's boyfriend Keith. In 2005, she reacquainted herself with Mike in France, but he was involved in a property scam, and when this went awry, he sent Dawn to live with Rosie in Walford. Dawn immediately caused a stir by conning her neighbours into paying for her breast implants, claiming she needed their money for a medical operation. When Mike's mother Nora died, she left £5000 to Rosie, but Mike persuaded Dawn to pose as her mother to get the money. Mike told Dawn that he was going to start afresh with her in Spain, but he took Rosie's money and left without her.

'Summergate'

After a failed attempt at a modeling career, Dawn found employment as a barmaid. Ian Beale propositioned Dawn in 2006, paying her to pose as his wife to impress business associates. Whilst at a function, Dawn met Rob Minter and they began dating; however, Dawn later discovered Rob was married to Dr. May Wright and the affair ended. When Dawn discovered she was pregnant with Rob's child, May, who was unable to conceive, asked Dawn to sell her baby for £19,000. Dawn agreed, taking extravagant gifts and money in the process, but she never intended to give the baby to May, and when Rob rebuffed her advances, she tried to have an abortion. In order to stop her, May forced Rob to reignite his affair with Dawn, their real plan being to take the baby after its birth. Rob eventually cracked under the pressure of the deception; he confessed May's plan and in retaliation, Dawn tried to force a miscarriage. She was unsuccessful, but her actions forced Rob to prioritise; he left May to be with Dawn. May played numerous vengeful tricks on Rob and Dawn, getting Rob sacked, restricting their money, and evicting them from their flat. Unable to choose between the two women, Rob had sex with May but then proposed to Dawn, suggesting they move away from Walford, but this was all just part of May's plan. Rob took Dawn to an empty house, she was handcuffed to a bed while May tried to perform a caesarean section on her.

Dawn is held captive by Mad May and Rob (2007).

Dawn managed to escape by attacking Rob. She returned to Walford and went into labour on the London Underground, later giving birth to a girl, Summer. While Dawn recovered in hospital, May sneaked into her room and tried to abduct Summer; however, Dawn caught her before she could escape with the child. Despite Rob's pleas, Dawn refused to take him back — she punched him in the face when he proposed again — and May was ncaught by the police whilst attempting to see Summer.

Relationship with Jase

Dawn struggled with parenting initially. She regularly left the care of Summer to her family, unable to accept the responsibility of being a full-time mother. Garry Hobbs proved a strong ally, helping Dawn care for Summer. Dawn was happy to take advantage, but when he proposed to her, she turned him down. Jase Dyer also showed interest; both men competed for Dawn's attention, but she chose Jase, devastating Garry. Jase proposed to Dawn in June 2008 and she accepted; however, when Dawn started favouring Summer over his son Jay, Jase postponed the wedding.

May's Return

In the midst of their arguing, Dawn was shocked to discover that May had returned, having received psychiatric treatment. Jase had unwittingly been working for May under her pseudonym Jenny — part of her renewed plan to steal Summer. May broke into the Millers' house, knocked Dawn's brother Mickey unconscious and locked Dawn in her bedroom, accusing her of being a bad mother. During a scuffle, Dawn broke her ankle and May would have left with Summer if Mickey had not intervened. Deranged, May purposefully caused a gas explosion and the Millers' house was engulfed by fire. Dawn, Mickey and Summer were unable to escape. Mickey and Summer were rescued, but Dawn was knocked unconscious by the smoke and was only saved by Keith's heroics; he entered the burning building and carried her to safety. May was killed in the explosion.

Jase's Demise

Dawn and Jase struggled financially. Jase began working for gangster Terry Bates in order to satisfy Dawn's monetary desires. Dawn, realising he was involved in criminal activity, made no attempt to stop him as she was desperate to keep the money and get the wedding of her dreams. The situation climaxed on Dawn's hen night, when Jase was set-up by Terry, stabbed and killed. Dawn, who had only just decided that materialistic things were unimportant, discovered Jase's death on her wedding day. Jay blamed Dawn for his father's death and rejected her. Dawn was distraught and turned to Garry for support, offering sex to him in a moment of vulnerability. When Garry turned her down, she left Walford with Summer to visit her family in the Cotswolds.

Dawn returned on 7 October 2008, to attend Jase's funeral. She is currently living with Garry temporarily but is still grieving for Jase but they are still progressing their relationship slowly.

On 20 October 2008, Dawn began flirting with one of the tenants at Garry and Minty Peterson's flat Callum Monks, Vinnie Monks's son who came to Walford looking for his dad. But this made Garry feel instantly jealous and had asked him to move out of the flat.

On October 23rd Dawn found the petrol soaked rags that Jay had pushed through the letter box. She went mad at Billy and called the police. Garry gives Dawn one of Jay's year nine school books. There is an essay called 'My Family' in it and a picture of Jay, Jase, Dawn and Summer. Dawn reads some of it out loud. It said... "And then my dad come back and met Dawn. She's got a right gob on her. She ain't my mum, but you can talk to her, like, better than a mum. And Summer's my sister. She ain't my logical sister but I like her she makes me laugh an all." Dawn explains to the police that it was all a mistake. She then tells Summer that they're going to find her brother.

On 24th of October 2008, Dawn and Billy went looking for Jay. Later that day Jay came round to apologise to Dawn and Summer and Dawn was saying she knew how Jay feels and Jay realised how much Dawn misses his dad. She has not been seen since though the character and the actress remain a part of the soap.

External links

• Dawn Swann at BBC Online