Clay Milner Russell

{{Infobox person

| name = Clay Milner Russell

| birth_name = Barnaby Clay Milner Russell

| image = Clay Milner Russell 2023.jpg

| caption = Milner Russell in 2023

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|7|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tower Hamlets, London, England

| occupation = Actor

| television = EastEnders

| years_active = 2013–present

}}

Barnaby Clay Milner Russell (born 25 July 1999) is an English actor, known for playing Bobby Beale on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2019 to 2024.

Life and career

Barnaby Clay Milner Russell was born on 25 July 1999 in Tower Hamlets, London, England.{{cite web |title=EastEnders recasts Bobby Beale: who is new actor Clay Milner Russell? |url=https://radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-bobby-beale-recast-clay-milner-russell/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706082124/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-bobby-beale-recast-clay-milner-russell/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders' Bobby Beale star Clay Milner Russell's life off screen including cast member bromance |url=https://ok.co.uk/lifestyle/eastenders-bobby-beale-star-clay-30608153.amp |website=OK! |date=2 August 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=3 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803021006/https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/eastenders-bobby-beale-star-clay-30608153.amp |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Who is Bobby Beale in EastEnders? Who is his mum and how did he kill sister Lucy Beale? |url=https://entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/who-is-bobby-beale-in-eastenders-who-is-is-mum-and-how-did-he-kill-his-sister/ |website=Entertainment Daily |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225220502/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/who-is-bobby-beale-in-eastenders-who-is-is-mum-and-how-did-he-kill-his-sister/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders co-stars Barbara Smith and Clay Milner Russell look close on stroll off-set |url=https://mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/eastenders-co-stars-barbara-smith-24558634 |website=Daily Mirror |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225164239/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/eastenders-co-stars-barbara-smith-24558634 |url-status=live }} He began his acting career in 2013 when he appeared in the short film The Parachutist. In 2016, he starred in the short film Graffiti as Archie, a boy who is struggling to deal with the loss of his father and uses graffiti to reconnect with his mother. In 2019, Russell appeared in the film County Lines as Bailey.{{cite web |title='County Lines' review: an honest telling of the harsh world that feeds our addictions |url=https://nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/county-lines-film-review-2837082 |website=NME |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214011128/https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/county-lines-film-review-2837082 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=County Lines review: 'Grim, gritty, and powerfully relevant' British drama |url=https://mirror.co.uk/film/county-lines-review-grim-gritty-23110970 |website=Daily Mirror |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118054443/https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/county-lines-review-grim-gritty-23110970 |url-status=live }}

In June 2019, Russell was announced to be joining the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as the fifth actor to take on the role of Bobby Beale.{{cite news |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a27695709/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-return-clay-milner-russell/ |title=EastEnders reveals Bobby Beale return details as Clay Milner Russell takes over role |first=Sophie |last=Dainty |date=3 June 2019 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504004909/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a27695709/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-return-clay-milner-russell/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders stars Bobby Brazier and Clay Milner Russell discuss real-life bromance |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/06/09/eastenders-bobby-brazier-and-clay-milner-russell-on-their-bromance-18912021/amp/ |website=Metro |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609204013/https://metro.co.uk/2023/06/09/eastenders-bobby-brazier-and-clay-milner-russell-on-their-bromance-18912021/amp/ |url-status=live }} His first scenes aired on 13 June 2019 when the character is released from prison following the murder of his sister, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater).{{cite web |title=Who is EastEnders' Bobby Beale again and why has he been recast? |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28004493/eastenders-who-is-bobby-beale-recast-clay-milner-russell/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117171634/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28004493/eastenders-who-is-bobby-beale-recast-clay-milner-russell/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders spoiler: Bobby Beale makes his big return |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a27695202/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-makes-his-big-return/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=13 June 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225165851/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a27695202/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-makes-his-big-return/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=All you need to know about Bobby Beale's shock return to EastEnders |url=https://radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/all-you-need-to-know-about-bobby-beales-shock-return-to-eastenders/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=21 June 2019 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824212515/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/all-you-need-to-know-about-bobby-beales-shock-return-to-eastenders/ |url-status=live }} Some of his key storylines as Bobby have included the character converting to Islam and subsequently becoming the victim of a racial attack, suffering from OCD, his infatuation with Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero), his relationships with Dana Monroe (Barbara Smith) and Anna Knight (Molly Rainford), and his friendship with Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier).{{cite web |title=EastEnders' Bobby Beale is attacked after visiting the Queen Vic — but who did it? |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28171769/eastenders-recap-bobby-beale-attacked-suspects-max-branning/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=24 June 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110023828/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28171769/eastenders-recap-bobby-beale-attacked-suspects-max-branning/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Screen kisses: why actors are now snogging mannequins, mirrors and their own lovers on set |url=https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/09/screen-kisses-why-actors-are-now-snogging-mannequins-mirrors-and-their-own-lovers-on-set |website=The Guardian |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=9 September 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925185105/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/09/screen-kisses-why-actors-are-now-snogging-mannequins-mirrors-and-their-own-lovers-on-set |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders is lining up a shock collapse for Bobby Beale later this month |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a32186835/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-collapse/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930195642/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a32186835/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-beale-collapse/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders confirms reunion for Bobby Beale and Dana Monroe |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a37894518/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-dana-reunion/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=7 October 2021 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226121212/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a37894518/eastenders-spoilers-bobby-dana-reunion/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders' Bobby Beale to explore the Islamic faith in new storyline |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28366654/eastenders-bobby-beale-exploring-islamic-faith-storyline/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426132912/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a28366654/eastenders-bobby-beale-exploring-islamic-faith-storyline/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Bobby Beale converts to Islam as EastEnders aims to "challenge preconceptions and prejudices" of Muslim faith |url=https://radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-bobby-beale-islam-muslim/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=12 July 2019 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928125903/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-bobby-beale-islam-muslim/ |url-status=live }} For his portrayal of Bobby, Russell was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards in 2020.{{cite web |title=The stars of EastEnders want YOUR your votes in the Inside Soap Awards! |url=https://insidesoap.co.uk/eastenders/the-stars-of-eastenders-want-your-your-votes-in-the-inside-soap-awards/ |website=Inside Soap Awards |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625041151/https://www.insidesoap.co.uk/eastenders/the-stars-of-eastenders-want-your-your-votes-in-the-inside-soap-awards/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Inside Soap Awards reveals full longlist for 2020's ceremony |url=https://digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a34014122/inside-soap-awards-2020-full-longlist-nominees/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=15 September 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922044648/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a34014122/inside-soap-awards-2020-full-longlist-nominees/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders review — soap opera’s return takes us behind the screens |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/eastenders-review-soap-operas-return-takes-us-behind-the-screens-9w5hxpjcg |access-date=24 August 2023 |url-access=subscription |date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226045919/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eastenders-review-soap-operas-return-takes-us-behind-the-screens-9w5hxpjcg |url-status=live }} In April 2024, it was reported that Russell would be leaving EastEnders after five years in the role.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=EastEnders star Clay Milner Russell leaving Bobby Beale role |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a60502963/eastenders-clay-milner-russell-leaving-bobby-beale-role/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2013 \| The Parachutist \| {{N/A\|Unknown}} \| Short film \| align="center" \|
2016 \| Graffiti \| Archie \| Short film \| align="center" \|
2019 \| County Lines \| Bailey \| Film role \| align="center" \|
2019–2024 \| EastEnders \| Bobby Beale \| Regular role \| align="center" \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2013

| The Parachutist

| {{N/A|Unknown}}

| Short film

| align="center" |

2016

| Graffiti

| Archie

| Short film

| align="center" |

2019

| County Lines

| Bailey

| Film role

| align="center" |

2019–2024

| EastEnders

| Bobby Beale

| Regular role

| align="center" |

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2020 \| Inside Soap Awards \| Best Newcomer \| EastEnders \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2020

| Inside Soap Awards

| Best Newcomer

| EastEnders

| {{nom}}