Dawn Swann is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kara Tointon, who first appeared on 26 September 2005.

It was reported on 26 March 2009 that Tointon and co-star Ricky Groves, who plays Garry Hobbs, would be written out of the soap and the character made her final appearance on 27 August 2009.

In 2007, the character was involved in a storyline where Dawn was kidnapped and held hostage by Dr. May Wright (Amanda Drew) and Rob Minter (Stuart Laing); their intention being to give her a forced caesarean section and take the baby.

Upon moving to Walford, Dawn immediately conned the residents of Albert Square to fund her breast enhancements.

As Dawn's breast size is bigger than Kara's, the actress is required to wear gel-filled padded bras and "chicken fillets".

"[5] Dawn's first prominent storyline began airing in 2006, when she started dating a married man, Rob Minter (Stuart Laing), and fell pregnant with his baby.

In a plot twist, Rob's wife, Dr May Wright (Amanda Drew), was unable to conceive, facilitating a storyline that saw her attempt to buy Dawn's unborn baby.

Plots saw the character May grow increasing erratic and obsessed with the unborn child, until the climax in June 2007, when Dawn was kidnapped and held hostage by May and Rob, their intention being to give her a forced caesarean section and take the baby.

[6] The storyline received focus in the British media at the time, due to a reported last-minute rewrite of scripts.

In October 2008, Tointon revealed that she wanted to see Dawn and Garry unite as a couple: "Fingers crossed as I really enjoy working with Ricky Groves.

[9] Tointon said she was excited about her exit storylines,[9] but was also reportedly upset by the axing, saying "I was heartbroken when they told me and I have to admit I did cry.

"[11] Following the axing, executive producer Diederick Santer said, "Dawn and Garry have some fantastic stuff to come — this spring and summer sees their love truly put to the test — and they go with our thanks and very best wishes.

She left home at 16, disapproving of her mother Rosie Miller (Gerry Cowper) for her relationship with her partner Keith (David Spinx).

She knows he is separated but Rob ends their relationship when his wife May Wright (Amanda Drew) wants to give their marriage another chance.

Dawn agrees, taking extravagant gifts and money in the process, but never intends to give the baby to May, and when Rob rebuffs her advances, she again plans to have an abortion.

Dawn escapes after attacking Rob and returns to Walford, but goes into labour on the London Underground, later giving birth to a girl, Summer.

Dawn struggles with parenting initially, leaving the care of Summer to her family, unable to accept the responsibility of being a full-time mother.

Her friend Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) proves a strong ally, helping Dawn care for Summer.

Garry walked in on them getting cosy in the hotel room, but Matt ran a mile when he realised Dawn had a baby.

This soon forces Jase to work for his former gang boss, Terry Bates (Nicholas Ball), in order to satisfy Dawn's monetary desires.

When she discovers that Jase is involved with Terry's gang, Dawn makes no attempt to stop him - desperate as she is for money to finance her dream wedding.

The situation climaxes on Dawn's hen night, when Jase is set up by Terry, who stabs him before he and his gang are eventually arrested.

Choosing the former, Dawn becomes his girlfriend and they agree to make plans for their wedding after dealing with Terry's trial for Jase's murder.

Dawn is initially regretful when Garry states that he is leaving Walford anyway, but then surprises her by proposing that she and Summer come with him - thereby implying that he still loves her.

During a brief return from Mickey on 9 December 2024, it is revealed that Dawn now works alongside himself and their mother, Rosie, at their family business of eco-friendly B&Bs in the Cotswolds, Miller's Villas.

In June 2007, 80 people complained to the BBC following the airing of a storyline that saw a pregnant Dawn chained to a bed by Dr May Wright, with her intention being to give her a forced Caesarean section.

"[16] A BBC spokesman said, "Last night's episode involving the characters Dawn, May, and Rob reached the climax that many viewers would have been anticipating.

[20] In 2009, Ruth Deller of entertainment website lowculture.co.uk, who runs a monthly feature of the most popular and unpopular soap opera characters, criticised Dawn, branding her as a 'spare part', also stating: "There is a fair bit of dead wood in Walford at the moment, and most of it is centred around Garry, Minty and their associates.

But off they chugged along the Grand Union Canal to a happy future — Garry and Dawn smiling, Summer cheerfully picking her nose.

"[23] In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Dawn 94th on their ranked list of the best EastEnders characters of all time, calling her "gorgeous" and "the most beautiful woman ever to set foot in Walford" who had "some major storylines before sailing off into the sunset with Garry".