Anna Constable is a 26-year-old English actress who joined EastEnders in August 2026 as Jodie Hawkins, the youngest sister of Nicola Mitchell. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, she has Noonan syndrome and is autistic, and her casting marks an important moment for disabled representation in British soap. This is the first dedicated biography of her career, answering the questions viewers keep asking.
Constable’s arrival on the Square has been one of the most positively received castings of the year. Here is her story so far.
Who Is Anna Constable?
Anna-Marie Darcy Constable was born in 1999 in Wroxall on the Isle of Wight. She is 26. She has Noonan syndrome, a genetic condition, and she is autistic. She studied on the Performance Making course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, a course designed for adults with autism and learning difficulties, graduating in 2023.
After graduating she starred in the stage production Imposter 22 and in A Small Enclosed Room at the Lowry theatre in Manchester in January 2025, a play exploring masking, autism and mental health. She also played the lead role of Jenny in the 2026 inclusive arts short film New Bloom.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Anna-Marie Darcy Constable |
| Age | 26 (born 1999) |
| Hometown | Wroxall, Isle of Wight |
| Training | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2023) |
| EastEnders role | Jodie Hawkins |
Anna Constable in EastEnders
It was announced in July 2026 that Constable would join EastEnders as Jodie Hawkins, a member of the newly introduced Hawkins family and the youngest sister of established character Nicola Mitchell. She made her first appearance on 17 August 2026.
Speaking about joining the show, Constable said: “Growing up watching EastEnders I never thought a disabled actress like me could ever land a role like this. But here I am loud and proud and taking no prisoners in mine or Jodie’s wake.” She has described Jodie as fiercely loyal, “the guard dog or the protector” of her friendship group, and teased a major Halloween storyline, Jodie’s favourite holiday.
Why Her Casting Matters: Representation
Constable’s casting is significant for disabled representation on British television. She has spoken openly about her autism, including hypersensitivity, and praised the EastEnders team for their care in her first week, noting that colleagues were mindful not to overwhelm her. Rather than treating her disability as a curiosity, coverage has rightly focused on her talent and the character she plays.
Career Before EastEnders
- Stage: Imposter 22 (2023), A Small Enclosed Room at the Lowry, Manchester (2025).
- Film: Lead role as Jenny in the inclusive arts short New Bloom (2026).
- Television: EastEnders as Jodie Hawkins (2026 to present).
The Hawkins Family Explained
Jodie arrives as part of a major new family unit. Her father Ned Roper, played by Jamie Bamber, arrives with wife Gemma Hawkins (Patricia Potter) and son Ryder (Felix Uff), joining Jodie and her mother Rose (Marian McLoughlin). Jodie is the youngest sister of established character Nicola Mitchell, connecting the newcomers directly to the Square’s existing drama.
Radio Times has teased a Halloween storyline for Jodie and Ryder, with Constable describing Jodie as fiercely loyal, “the guard dog or the protector” of her friendship group. Halloween episodes have become a fixture of recent EastEnders years, suggesting the storyline will be significant.
Disability Representation on British Television
Constable’s casting continues a gradual but important shift in British soap. Disabled actors in prominent new roles remain rare, and her openness about her autism and Noonan syndrome, combined with her “loud and proud” arrival, sets a tone of pride rather than pity.
Her account of her first week, with colleagues mindful of her hypersensitivity and careful not to overwhelm her, also shows how productions can adapt working practices. Representation is not only about who appears on screen but about how sets accommodate the people they cast.
Stage Roots
Before EastEnders, Constable built her craft on stage. Imposter 22 in 2023, A Small Enclosed Room at Manchester’s Lowry in January 2025, a play exploring masking, autism and mental health, and the lead in the 2026 short film New Bloom gave her a foundation in work that engages directly with disability and identity. That background informs the authenticity she brings to Jodie.
Jodie’s Storylines: What to Watch
Constable has teased a major Halloween storyline for Jodie, her character’s favourite holiday. Halloween episodes have become appointment viewing in recent EastEnders years, suggesting the writers have significant plans. Her description of Jodie as the “guard dog or the protector” of her friendship group promises a character with strong loyalties and the potential for explosive confrontations.
As the youngest sister of Nicola Mitchell, Jodie is embedded in one of the Square’s key families from her first episode. That positioning gives her storylines immediate stakes and a built-in audience investment.
Working on the Square: Her Experience
Constable has spoken warmly about her first weeks on set, describing how colleagues came over to say hello and were mindful of her autism-related hypersensitivity. That account matters beyond one actress: it shows a major production adapting its working culture, and it sets an example the wider industry can follow.
Her “loud and proud” arrival statement captured the mood perfectly: pride in identity, excitement for the work and no intention of being sidelined. Viewers have responded to that energy, and Jodie Hawkins looks set to become a fixture.
Jodie Hawkins: Character Profile
Jodie Hawkins arrives on the Square as the youngest member of the new Roper-Hawkins family unit, and as the youngest sister of Nicola Mitchell. Constable describes her as fiercely loyal, “the guard dog or the protector” of her friendship group, a characterisation that promises both warmth and volatility.
Her first appearance in episode 7383 on 17 August 2026 introduced her alongside parents Ned and Gemma, brother Ryder and mother Rose. The family’s arrival is one of the biggest casting expansions in recent EastEnders history, and Jodie’s Halloween storyline is already being teased as a major moment.
The Isle of Wight Roots
Born Anna-Marie Darcy Constable in 1999 in Wroxall on the Isle of Wight, Constable grew up away from the industry’s traditional centres. Her path, from the island to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to the EastEnders cast, shows how British acting talent increasingly comes from outside London. Her pride in her roots is part of what makes her story resonate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Anna Constable?
She is 26, born in 1999 in Wroxall on the Isle of Wight.
Who does Anna Constable play in EastEnders?
She plays Jodie Hawkins, the youngest sister of Nicola Mitchell.
What is Noonan syndrome?
Noonan syndrome is a genetic condition Anna Constable has. She has spoken about it openly alongside her autism as part of her identity as a disabled actress.
Where did Anna Constable train?
She graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2023, studying on its Performance Making course.
When did Anna Constable join EastEnders?
Her casting was announced in July 2026 and she first appeared on 17 August 2026.
What is Anna Constable’s net worth?
No credible net-worth figure has been published for Anna Constable.