Mary is the granddaughter of Maggie Flaherty, Pauline Fowler's long-lost sister. Her father is Conor, but she doesn't get on with him. When the Fowlersgo to Ireland to meet their relatives, Mary is a teenager in trouble. Although she has a levelhead on her shoulders, she is having an affair with an older married man, Gerry McCrae. Mary finds a good friend in her cousin Mark, and decides to move Walford, and their relationship improves over time. Pauline initially likes Mary, often remarking that she is like a young version of her mother, but they cannot live in the same house and Mary often has to find new accommodation. Mary also comes between couple Joe Wicks and Sarah Hills, but Joe returns to Sarah after they have a one-night stand, breaking her heart. Mary breaks her pelvis whilst on holiday in Norfolk and then gets involved with Matthew Rose and Robbie Jackson, before leaving Walford with her father, Conor, and his pregnant lover, Mark's wife Ruth Fowler. They now live in Scotland.
Creation and development
It was announced in July 1997 that Pauline Fowler's long lost family were to be introduced into EastEnders. Melanie Clark Pullen secured the role and made her first appearance on 22 September 1997. There were hints that the character would move to Albert Square in the future, which is what ultimately happened. Richie Taylor of the Daily Mirror said "It will be a huge break for Melanie, 23, who finished college only earlier this year and will make her screen debut in the series." In November 2000, Clark Pullen revealed that becoming a celebrity sent her "spiraling into depression". She said "The whole thing terrified the life out of me. It was a real baptism of fire and quite unnerving. I didn't quite know what I was letting myself in for. Coming from Blackrock, near Dublin, I just didn't realise what an obsession EastEnders is over in England. I found it extremely difficult adjusting to London. I didn't know my way around, but everyone knew me. I would ask the way to Marks & Spencers and get: 'Oh, my God - it's Mary off the telly'.'And I'd get 16-year-old boys going: 'Hello Mary, I'll show you a good time'. I started to suffer panic attacks and felt increasingly isolated. It was worse coming straight from Ireland." She added that it was scary because Ireland and England have different senses of humour.
