Thomas Law

Thomas John Law (born 17 December 1992) is an English actor and singer. He is known for portraying the role of Peter Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2006 to 2010, before reprising the role from 2023 onwards. Between 2021 and 2023, he appeared in the ITV drama series The Bay as DC Eddie Martin.

Thomas Law
Law in 2010
Born
Thomas John Law

(1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 31)
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Television

Early life

Thomas John Law was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire to Trish and Robert Law and grew up in Potters Bar with his two older sisters.[1] He also has family in Australia and Dorset.[1] Law attended Chancellor's School in Brookmans Park.[2]

Career

Law began modelling at the age of four and made his television debut in 2005 with a recurring role in the BBC One soap opera Casualty.[3] He would later return as a guest in 2014.[4]

EastEnders

In 2006, Law became the fifth actor to take over the role of Peter Beale in EastEnders, taking over from James Martin. Law was in a scene nominated for Spectacular Scene of the Year at the 2008 British Soap Awards. In November 2010, it was announced that Law would be leaving the soap after four years, and he made his final appearance in December 2010. The role of Peter was later recast to Ben Hardy who portrayed the role between 2013 and 2015 and later to Dayle Hudson who played the role between 2020 and 2022.[5]

In June 2023, Law made an unannounced return to EastEnders, taking over the role of Peter for a second time in a storyline that accommodated the return of Peter's parents, Cindy (Michelle Collins) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). The story also saw the character reunite with the mother of his child, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).[6] It was then announced that Law would be returning to the show on a permanent basis.[7]

Other work

In 2011, Law made his stage debut as the titular role in Peter Pan.[8][9] He also played Ste on the 2015 UK tour of Beautiful Thing alongside Sam Jackson and Charlie Brooks.[10]

Law landed small film roles in The World's End in 2013,[11] Unhallowed Ground in 2015, and Gutterdämmerung and the American teen musical A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits opposite Sofia Carson in 2016.[12]

In 2021, Law joined the cast of the ITV crime drama The Bay for its second series on as DC Eddie Martin. Metro called it his "small screen comeback". He went on to appear in the third and fourth series, before his departure from the series was announced in 2023 due to scheduling conflicts with EastEnders.[13][14][15]

Philanthropy

In 2007 and 2008, Law took part in Children In Need alongside the cast of EastEnders.[16] Other notable charity work has included playing at the Alan Ball Memorial Cup in 2007, the opening of the kitchens at the University Hospitals of Leicester.[17]

In December 2007, Law was invited to Luton & Dunstable Hospital by his aunt, where he spent time with children who had to stay in the wards over Christmas. After the event, hospital spokesman Barry Mayes said "[Law] gave a big chunk of his time. He was very pleasant, mature and humble, and really homed in on the children and how they were feeling."[18]

In February 2010, Law attended a fundraising event along with other members of the EastEnders cast to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The event took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.[19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013The World's EndYoung Gary King
2015Unhallowed GroundDaniel "Danny" Gordon
2016GutterdämmerungPete the Mod
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe FitsReed WestDirect-to-video
2018The InnerFreddieShort film
2021FramedKarl
Last Train to ChristmasYoung Tony Towers

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005, 2014CasualtyMatt Haddon / Sean Starky5 episodes
2006–2010, 2023–presentEastEndersPeter BealeRegular role
2007–2009Children in NeedHimself
2013Sadie JCallum[20]
2019Living the DreamWyattEpisode: "Endangered Species"
2021–2023The BayDC Eddie MartinMain role

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Peter PanPeter PanThe Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester[21]
2015Beautiful ThingSteUK tour

References

EastEnders
Preceded by
James Martin
Peter Beale actor
2006 – '10
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Dayle Hudson
Peter Beale actor
2023 – present
Incumbent