While EastEnders fans have been reeling over the twisted actions of Joel Marshall, the emotionally volatile character at the center of one of the soap’s darkest storylines, the actor behind him—Max Murray—has been keeping a stunning real-life secret. He’s not the only Murray to appear on the BBC soap.

In fact, both his mum and his aunt have walked the cobbles of Albert Square before him.

Max Murray, introduced earlier this year as Vicki Fowler’s troubled stepson, has quickly become one of the most unsettling figures in the current EastEnders lineup. But it turns out acting runs in his blood. His mother is none other than actress Gina Murray, a seasoned performer whose TV résumé includes appearances in Doctors, The Bill, and The Hunt for Raoul Moat. But in 2014, she quietly stepped into EastEnders as Helen, a compassionate specialist who helped Carol Jackson choose a wig while undergoing cancer treatment. It was a short but deeply emotional arc—and now it takes on new meaning with her son stepping into the show a decade later.

But the family connection doesn’t stop there.

Max’s aunt, acclaimed West End actress and singer Mazz Murray, has also made not one, but two appearances on EastEnders—and both were memorable in very different ways.

In 2004, Mazz played Miranda, a no-nonsense waitress who clashed with Heather Trott and Shirley Carter. It was a classic slice of soap chaos. Then in 2017, she returned in an entirely new role: Julie, a recently divorced woman who famously hired Keanu Taylor for a passionate night—yes, that Keanu Taylor. Fans will remember the episode for its cheeky shock factor and how it added another layer to Keanu’s already messy timeline.

While Max is currently immersed in his role as incel Joel—a storyline that’s generated massive fan conversation and controversy—his family’s acting pedigree now casts a whole new light on his rise. Both Gina and Mazz have thrived in the theatre world, with Mazz taking lead roles in Chicago, Mamma Mia!, and Sunset Boulevard.

The Murrays are clearly no strangers to performance, whether it’s under the bright lights of the West End or the gritty realism of Walford.

What’s perhaps most striking is the range the family brings to the screen: Gina portrayed empathy and medical warmth, Mazz brought both chaos and charisma, and Max now delivers chilling psychological tension in a role that’s tested the audience’s comfort zone.

It’s rare to find a real-life acting dynasty with three members all appearing on the same show across decades—but the Murrays have done just that. And for viewers paying attention, it’s a thrilling Easter egg hidden in plain sight.

Did you know Max Murray came from a family of EastEnders alumni—or did this secret acting legacy catch you off guard?