EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan, who plays Zoe Slater in the award-winning TV soap, is being "rested" from the BBC One show on doctors' orders.

The move has meant the postponement of her screen wedding with Dr Anthony Trueman, played by Nicholas Bailey.

We look forward to her return as soon as possible

Louise Berridge, EastEnders producer

Newspapers have reported that Ryan, 18, has been suffering from "nervous exhaustion" and will be resting for an indefinite period.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: "Michelle Ryan, her parents and EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge have decided that Michelle should take time out of the show, after doctors advised her she should rest.

"The wedding storyline will be re-written to accommodate her absence."

Ryan's character Zoe Slater had been set to antagonise her mother Kat - she had grown up believing Kat was actually her sister - by marrying the Square's doctor.

Dr Trueman is a former boyfriend of her mother's.

Zoe's fianc�e Dr Trueman also romanced her mother

Now the much-anticipated wedding will have to be held over until her return.

Zoe Slater's turbulent screen life saw her run away from home when she discovered Kat was actually her mother.

Ryan has said that acting out such emotional scenes was draining for her.

Series producer Louise Berridge said: "Michelle is a valued member of the cast and it's important for us to support her at a time like this.

Eventful

"We look forward to her return as soon as possible."

The young actress's own life has also been eventful recently, with her romance to TV actor Gary Lucy ending abruptly amid reports that he had been dating actress Kelly Wenham.

Zoe's mother is played by Jessie Wallace (left)

EastEnders recently swept the board at the British Soap Awards in London - for the third year running.

The BBC One show picked up 10 of the 16 awards on offer, including best British soap and the sexiest female award, which went to Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater.

The soap also won the award for the best single episode - for the October edition in which Zoe learned the truth about Kat being her mother.