Dana Monroe (previously credited as Dana Adams) made her first appearance on 1 April 2021. She is portrayed by Barbara Smith. She is the ex-girlfriend of Bobby Beale and also the daughter of Harvey Monroe and Mrs Monroe aswell as the sister of Aaron Monroe, aswell as the niece of Fern Monroe.
Backstory
Harvey recalls Dana’s christening as one of the best days of his life. It’s unknown who her godparents are. Dana’s mother left when she was young, all she has left of her is her bracelet. Harvey recalls Dana wanting time be a nurse ever since she was a little kid. Dana recalls her grandmother died ten years ago in 2021, meaning she died in 2011. When they were kids, Harvey used to tell Dana and Aaron to never apologise for something they didn’t do.
Storylines
2021-2022: Arrival and relationship with Bobby
Dana is the girl that Bobby goes on a date with at Walford East after him and Jade don't work out. He tells her a lot of lies about him living in New Zealand and going through a break-up with Lauren Branning. He also lies about owning half of the restaurant they are sitting in, Walford East, which is actually owned by his father Ian Beale. He continues to lie to her pretending that Peter Beale is Kathy Beale's carer. After the date, they become a couple and Bobby continues to lie about himself. One day when Bobby and Dana are at 45 Albert Square alone, Bobby and Dana have sex, both losing their virginity to each other. After this, Bobby is distressed as he has not told Dana he is a Muslim. After this, Bobby is almost exposed multiple times, with His Brother winding him up by pretending he is going to tell Dana, and Kim Fox calls him Bobby in the park, Bobby tells his friend, Iqra Ahmed about his struggles and she urges him to tell the truth. After the Kim incident at the park, he comes clean about the lies and confesses he isn’t called Rob, doesn’t own the restaurant, didn’t live in New Zealand and tells her he killed his sister Lucy Beale, Dana breaks up with him and attempts to leave, however, she realises bobby has changed and he convinces her to stay in Walford and the two resume their relasonship.
In July 2021, at Bobby’s eighteenth birthday, Dana’s dad, Harvey Monroe, arrives after Dana invited him, however he doesn’t know the truth and still beloved that Bobby does charity walks. Tom Cotton, Kathy and Bobby later help Dana and Harvey move in to 5D Albert Square later that month, Where Rocky accidentally reveals to Harvey that Bobby is a Muslim and killed Lucy, after which he storms into the Beale’s house and takes Dana home, however the two continue their relasonship despite Harvey’s anger. Harvey Eventually comes round to Bobby and Dana being together, and in September Bobby makes a promise to Harvey to reassure him he will protect her, unfortunately later that day, Dana is attacked by a gang after her, Bobby, Kioni and Iqra are victims of racist comments, Iqra and Kioni had already walked away before Dana tripped, leaving her and Bobby with the gang. Bobby freezes on the spot and watches on until Harvey shows up and saves her. She survives with a injured arm and bleeding lip, however Harvey is fuming and attempts to make Dana break up with Bobby, which she doesn’t. After this, she decides to defer from going to university in Glasgow, and Harvey is unable to get through to her so asks Bobby to talk to her. After Harvey asks Bobby to make Dana reconsider her place at university after she decided to stay in Walford instead, she dumps him on her doorstep as she is tired of men trying to control her life and throws the charm Bobby got her back at him. Later, After leaving work and telling Bobby the oven is off for cleaning, she realises how harsh her actions were after she notices bobby’s OCD is back as he is turning the oven on and off again. After a heart to heart, Bobby and Dana rekindle their relationship.
After Dana’s Brother, Aaron, arrives, Bobby and Dana are constantly criticised by him, however, they brush it off and Dana briefly stays at 45 to get a break from him. She moved back into 5D before Christmas. When Neil Hughes plants a bomb in the Argee Bhajee and forced Aaron to detonate it, he backs out because he cannot bring himself to detonate it while his little sister is in The Albert, which The Argee Bhajee backs onto, as it would result in her being in danger. After this, Bobby sees Aaron and Neil talking after Neil calls him a race traitor. After telling Dana, she refuses to believe it and after some manipulation by Aaron, she returns the Hijab Bobby got her for Christmas and calls the relationship off.
2022: Aaron’s arrest and Breaking up with Bobby
A few weeks Later, Harvey calls the police and reports Aaron, when they arrive at 5D, Bobby and Dana are there. After his arrest, Harvey tells Bobby and Dana the truth about Aaron. Dana later apologises to bobby, and asks to begin their relationship again, however, Bobby refuses after saying she already turned her back on his faith, and leaves, leaving Dana crying in the kitchen. Later, Dana feels sick and calls in ill to Peter. After experiencing dizziness in the Café, Mila and Kioni Marwa talk to her, and Kioni states that a girl at her school experienced the same symptoms as her, and that she was pregnant. Peter hears this on the phone, and tells bobby, who later decides to propose to Dana, however, when he does, Kathy and Peter interrupt them, and expose the fact Aaron was racist, during this, Dana also reveals she isn’t pregnant.
2022: Harvey’s Engagement, Beale Brother love triangle and leaving Walford for Scotland
When she finds out her Father, Harvey, is in a relationship with Jean Slater, she begins to become worried about him as she noticed he has been drinking more and sleeping less. When she later moves in with them, Dana and her flatmate, Tom Cotton begin to become annoyed at her energetic behaviour as she began cleaning the house at four in the morning. However, Jean and Harvey later split up after Jean’s bipolar causing her to attempt suicide in Southend. After this, Dana tries her best to support Harvey but due to Neil manipulating him to give a phone to Aaron in prison, he loses his cool on her multiple times and shouts at her. When Aaron was stabbed in prison, Dana didn’t visit him in hospital, possibly due to anger
After Aaron is transferred to a prison in Newcastle, Dana is distraught as she still loves her brother despite his actions. She asks Peter Beale to rehire her at Walford East, however on her first shift she walks out due to her emotions. Peter follows her and buys her an ice cream to talk with her, where she tells him how she feels. After returning to work a few days later, Bobby buys her a comic to rekindle their friendship, which she beloved is from Peter. When Bobby tells her it was from him, the two become friends again. Peter and Dana continue to grow closer, with Dana attempting to kiss him at one point. One day after the restaurant is closed, Dana and Peter have sex in the heat of the moment, but are caught by Ben Mitchell who exposes them at Tom’s birthday party later that day. The day after, Dana speaks to Lola Pearce and she tells Dana that the only reason Harvey can barely look at her is because he can’t accept his daughter is having sex. After this, Peter angrily leaves Walford after having a go at Kathy, Tom and Bobby for caring about Ben more than him, oblivious to the fact Ben had been raped, with Dana watching on. On 18 July 2022, Dana and Bobby have an argument at work, with Dana stating that she didn’t cheat as they weren’t together, and Dana quitting.
On 10 August 2022, Dana sees Bobby looking sad in the Vic, and asks Frankie Lewis what’s wrong. Frankie tells Dana that Kathy is selling the restaurant and wants him to work in the chippy instead. Dana then sees Suki Panesar and Eve Unwin arrive, with Suki battered. Dana asks Suki if she’s okay, but Suki feels overwhelmed and attempts to leave, but Eve takes her behind the bar and asks Frankie for the first aid kit. Dana later goes over to Bobby, saying she heard about the restaurant and that she’s sorry. Bobby says it’s another thing Peter ruined, with Dana saying she was trying to be nice. Bobby apologises, and says he doesn’t want any bad blood between them, but is struggling to see any positives at the moment. Dana says it’s going to be okay and that she hears Bobby for the chippy, and that if he doesn’t want it he should find another restaurant as anywhere would be lucky to have him. Bobby asks Dana if she wants to get a drink, but Frankie calls last order. Bobby asks if Dana would like to get one tomorrow to clear the air, and she agrees.
The next day, Tom approaches Dana and asks if she’s going for a drink with Bobby tonight, and Dana says yes. Tom says it’s interesting and tells Dana that Bobby still likes her. Tom says he knows they’ve been through a lot but going through a difficult time with someone doesn’t have to push them apart but can bring them together. Dana tried to shut him down, but he interrupts her, saying that he thinks they should be together and tells Dana to enjoy herself. Dana and Bobby later meet in the Vic, and both want to say something to the other, and they both say they just want to stay friends in sync with each other, making them both laugh. Dana admits she wanted to meet Bobby as she’s leaving for University soon and she wanted to apologise for everything that’s happened between them. The two then share a hug.
On 29 August 2022, Dana begins preparing to leave as her last week in Walford begins. Dana and Harvey talk with Bobby in the cafe, and Dana says she got her first choice accommodation confirmed for Glasgow, and Harvey says it has en-suite bathrooms. Dana reveals to Bobby she’s moving up at the end of the week to settle in, which upsets Bobby. Harvey says they can’t wait, but he is upset by it too. Dana later asks Harvey if he’s been to a proper carnival such as Notting Hill, and the two then see Jean. Harvey’s mood quickly changes and he says he’s not going and Dana says that he was excited for the party. Harvey then gives Dana his bank card so she can go shopping for stuff she needs for University. Dana later meets with Harvey in the cafe, and asks if he’s been drinking, Dana says he said he wasn’t going to the carnival, and Harvey said he didn’t. Dana asks if him drinking at home was over Jean, and Harvey says it was. Dana suggests going to see Jean, and he says he doesn’t want to. Harvey then storms out.
The next day, Dana speaks with Harvey in the Vic while passing by. Just then, Bobby comes out the toilet so Harvey convinces Dana to go so they can continue talking about her surprise party. The following day, Dana returns home after presumably staying at a hotel that night, and asks Harvey if he’s not going to work. Harvey says no, but he’s going in later as he’s had a few to drink. Dana asks if she’s expected to leave him like this, with Harvey saying he’s fine, causing Dana to storm of into her bedroom. Dana later finds Bobby in the Vic, and tells Bobby about Harvey.
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Bobby & Dana's farewell kiss
Mick and Bobby assure her Harvey will be ok, but Dana says when her mum left he wouldn’t leave the house for days. Bobby reminds her that Harvey has Mitch, Tom and himself and that he’ll be fine. Dana is infuriated by both of them, and storms out. While outside, Dana calls her university and says she’d like to postpone her course. Dana texts Harvey, and he says to meet her at Peggy’s. Dana gets there and tells Harvey this isn’t where he wanted to talk. Harvey tells her to go inside, and Dana says he’s been drinking too much. Harvey gets Dana to follow her in, and she reveals she postponed her course, just then everyone reveals it’s a surprise party, leaving Dana and Harvey both surprised. Dana later talks to Harvey, and she says she thought she was drinking again. Harvey convinced Dana not to cancel her place as he’ll be fine as he has support he needs. After this, Dana and Bobby talk, with Dana thanking him for the party. She reveals that meeting Bobby made her life so much better, saying if she never met him she’d never be able to move away as it feels so grown up. Bobby tells her not to forget them, with Dana saying she never could. Dana tells him never to hide who he is again, as when he finds the right girl, he’ll be amazing before kissing him on the cheek.
Dana then goes to the allotments to visit Jean after Stacey said she’ll be there. Jean days she thought Dana was already in Scotland, with Dana saying she’s getting the sleeper train. Jean recounts a rhyme she learnt in primary school, saying Harvey would know it. Dana says she should ask him, and Jean says Harvey doesn’t think she should be out. Dana says that if he thinks that, it’s because he cares, and that he doesn’t have enough people that care about him unlike Jean. Dana says that her and Harvey have been through a lot and that just because the two aren’t together they can still look out for each other. Harvey and Dana later go to the tube station together, with Dana quoting Jean’s rhyme. The two share a hug, and Dana promises to text Harvey when she’s there before going through the tube barrier, starting the next chapter of her life.
2022-2023: Life after Walford
After leaving Walford, Dana remains in frequent contact with Harvey and Bobby, and being mentioned multiple times. On 12 September 2022, Harvey gets an email from Dana, saying she’s doing well but is struggling with the tog rating on her new duvet. On 22 September 2022, Kim Fox mentions Dana at Frankie Lewis's leaving party, saying she gave Dana all her Scottish knowledge. On 27 September 2022, Harvey calls Dana, however she doesn’t answer, and Harvey leaves a voicemail asking her to call him when she’s free. At Christmas 2022, Dana Pays for Harvey to travel to Scotland and spend the holiday with her. When Harvey finds out about Stacey Slater’s Secret Cam account, he tells Jean that he understands how she feels as he would be horrified if it was Dana. On 3 August 2023, Bobby mentions Anna Knight, and Harvey tells Bobby to take his chance with Anna, but tells him not to lie to her about who he is like with Dana. In March 2024, Harvey tells Jean that he learned from Dana that the stricter you are with your kids the more they rebel.
Residence History
| Address | Years |
|---|---|
| 5D Albert Square | 2021-2022 |
| 45 Albert Square | 2021 |
| on-site at Barton University Glasgow, Hopper Way, Scotland | 2022 to present |
Employment history
| Occupation | Years Active |
|---|---|
| Primary School Student | 2006-2012 |
| Secondary School Student | 2012-2017 |
| Sixth Form Student | 2017-2019 |
| Waitress at Walford East | 2021-2022, 2022 |
| Student at Barton University Glasgow | 2022 to present |
Quotes
First line to Bobby Beale: “Lovely, not that I can taste anything, I think I had covid, well my dad thinks I had covid, I never actually got the test so I don’t actually know. But I am really into my hand sanitiser!”
Last line to Harvey Monroe: "From the station, and when i get there, and when I'm in the halls, and-"