1. Ellen Zitek is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Casualty, played by actress Georgina Bouzova.
41 Facts About Ellen Zitek
1. 2.
Ellen Zitek first appeared in the series nineteen episode "Out With a Bang", broadcast on 18 September 2004.
3.
Ellen Zitek can be nasty and scheming, traits which initially worried Bouzova who presumed the public would dislike her.
4.
Ellen Zitek is originally from Ukraine and arrives in Holby City to work as a nurse.
5.
Ellen Zitek was introduced as the step-sister of Nina Farr.
6.
Ellen Zitek cut her waist-length hair short to accommodate her character's chemotherapy treatment.
7.
The actress was not allowed to discuss her exit storyline until after Ellen Zitek's departure had aired.
8.
Ellen Zitek said that it was "amazing" and that she "jumped" at the chance to take on the role.
9.
Ellen Zitek's stubborn and selfish but has a charm which makes her impossible not to like.
10.
Ellen Zitek is characterised as "stubborn and selfish" but has natural charm which makes other characters like her.
11.
The actress added that Ellen Zitek thinks she can put her time to better use in finding a rich man to marry.
12.
Bouzova originally feared that viewers would spit at her in the street because Ellen Zitek is such a "scheming, nasty character".
13.
Ellen Zitek added the nurse is "conniving" and she could never imagine trying to get away with the things Ellen does.
14.
Ellen Zitek is the sister of Nina Farr and arrives to work in the hospital as a nurse.
15.
Bouzova told a reporter from the Western Mail that Ellen Zitek arrives in the Holby City to stay with her sister after something happened in her home country Ukraine.
16.
Ellen Zitek grew up in Ukraine with Nina's mother who married her father.
17.
Ellen Zitek had travelled to the United Kingdom eleven months prior to arriving at Holby.
18.
In one storyline Ellen Zitek asks Abs to marry her so she can stay in the UK after her visa runs out.
19.
Ellen Zitek later reveals that she has debts and loan sharks are after her.
20.
Ellen Zitek's lies begin to unravel and Abs discovers that she has lied about her father's abuse.
21.
Ellen Zitek realises that she only wanted a visa and has been scamming him.
22.
Ellen Zitek tries to convince Abs that she wants to make their marriage genuine because she loves him.
23.
The looming threat of deportation makes Ellen Zitek stressed at work.
24.
However it is soon revealed the information Ellen Zitek discovered was that the city administration have decided there is no need for two ED wards and Holby's risks closure.
25.
Bouzova wanted to empathise with Ellen Zitek and decided to read books about the condition and watch cancer related movies.
26.
The actress told Hoyle that the tears Ellen Zitek shed on-screen during the story were real.
27.
On-screen the storyline plays out when Ellen Zitek thinks she is pregnant with Harry Harper's baby.
28.
Harry had ended their relationship when scheming nurse Bruno Jenkins started a false rumour that he and Ellen Zitek were having an affair.
29.
Ellen Zitek tells Harry that she is pregnant but he refuses to believe her and she slaps him in the face.
30.
Ellen Zitek manages to convince Harry and he comes to terms with the idea of having a child with her.
31.
Ellen Zitek experiences bleeding and goes for a scan to check on her pregnancy.
32.
Ellen Zitek was ready and feeling optimistic about life as a single parent.
33.
Nina supports Ellen Zitek and accompanies her to collect her scan results.
34.
Ellen Zitek asks him to keep her illness a secret and he agrees.
35.
Ellen Zitek begins to undergo chemotherapy treatments and eventually begins to lose her hair.
36.
The actress wanted her character to leave the show "on a high" rather than let Ellen Zitek become a "stale" character and leave quietly.
37.
Bouzova had to remain secretive about her exit, but told Hendry that Ellen Zitek would go "out with a bang".
38.
Ellen Zitek described it as "very exciting and very shocking" and that it would make an "impact" on the show itself.
39.
Ellen Zitek told Steve Hendry from the Sunday Mail that Ellen started out as a "baddie" but through her storylines with Harry and her subsequent cancer, the audience really cared about her and the character had gained a "big fan base".
40.
Ellen Zitek added that Ellen's final scenes "will take people's breath away".
41.
Ellen Zitek named her the "big wuss of the week" in his television column.