Before her first television appearance nearly forty years ago, EastEnders icon little resembles her former self.

Although many actors have come and gone since EastEnders first aired on BBC in 1985, the Beale family has remained a recognizable soap legend.

After “dying” more than twenty years ago, Cindy Beale from EastEnders (played by Michelle Collins) has at last made her way back to the Square.

Longtime viewers of the BBC soap opera may recall Michelle’s 1988 début as Cindy, a troublemaker.

After a few years of intermittent appearances on the soap opera, Cindy finally left in 1998 when she supposedly “died” in jail.

However, it was discovered Cindy is actually alive and has been in witness protection since her “death” earlier this year.

While viewers attempt to comprehend Cindy’s complex past, a throwback image of actress Michelle has surfaced, and it’s safe to say the soap opera star doesn’t resemble herself at all.

At 61 years old, Michelle has returned to the soap opera and is still just as recognizable as ever. Other enduring characters have no trouble spotting Cindy’s apparent resurrection from the dead.

However, a photograph taken in 1987 captures a very young Michelle at the beginnings of her prosperous career.

Fans would be excused for not noticing the likeness to the EastEnders icon right away given her short, bleach-blonde hairstyle and huge, black hooped earrings.

Michelle, who appears completely different from her problematic EastEnders alter persona, would have been around 25 years old at the time of the photograph.

Shortly after the shot was taken, Cindy arrived and rocked the Square, making Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) life more challenging while she was living in Walford.

He seemed to have forgave her, though, after learning that she is still alive, and the former pair reconnected in France.

When it was ultimately determined that Cindy could return to Walford, she was frantic to do so, but Ian kept delaying her.

The dramatic repercussions were shown in tonight’s episode as she returned to her former residence and unintentionally ran into her ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon), whom she had left behind nine years prior along with their two daughters in order to protect them from the dangers she posed by living a double life.

How will she be able to clean up the mess she made now that she is undeniably back on the Square?