Kara Tointon has remained booked and busy since her EastEnders exit as Dawn Swann, including a role in an upcoming Hollywood movie
Joe Crutchley Screen Time Reporter
16:23, 14 Apr 2026Updated 16:26, 14 Apr 2026
EastEnders actress unrecognisable in Hollywood film after ‘crying’ over soap axe(Image: BBC)
Former EastEnders star Kara Tointon looks worlds away from her Walford character in a brand new Hollywood blockbuster.
The actress shot to fame when she joined the BBC One soap in 2005, as Dawn Swann, the step-sister of Joe Swash’s character Mickey Miller. And it’s fair to say it didn’t take her long to become a firm favourite with fans.
Kara was also involved in some big storylines playing Dawn. From her romance with married man Rob Minter (Stuart Laing) to her fleeting fling with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Dawn’s time in Walford was not short of drama.
However, in 2009, Dawn left Walford after finding her fairy-tale ending with Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves), with the couple departing on a canal boat alongside her daughter, Summer.
Kara played Dawn on the BBC soap(Image: BBC)
And according to Kara, the decision that bosses made to axe her character didn’t go down too well with her. She told the Daily Star at the time: “I was heartbroken when they told me, and I have to admit I did cry.
“I just have to dust myself down and get back out there. I’ve already told them that if they do plan to kill Dawn, I will refuse to close my eyes in the dying scenes!”
Since her soap exit, Kara has remained in high demand. In 2010, she won Strictly Come Dancing and has appeared in shows such as The Teacher, Archie, and Too Good To Be True.
She was last seen in 2009(Image: BBC)
And later this year, she is set to appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Kara plays Willamae Abernathy, the mother of Haymitch Abernathy, in the movie, which features a stellar cast including Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, and Kieran Culkin.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the events of the first film, showing many iconic characters in their youth, including Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy.
Kara appears in the new Hunger Games movie
And this week, fans were given a huge update on the film as a full-length trailer was released. During the trailer, Kara’s character popped up on screen – and fans were left stunned.
“Shaking at ar Dawn Swann in the new Hunger Games trailer…Hollywood Queen!” declared one person on X. Someone else added: “I knew it was her! Had to do a double take LOL.”
A third chimed in: “Oh wow, I did not recognise her.” Echoing their thoughts, another shocked fan penned: “Wth, they really got our Eastenders girl in the new Hunger Games.” A fifth wrote: “OUR DAWN, F*** OFF! GO ON!”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One.