Lucy's final scenes are fast approaching, and Hetti Bywater has been sharing her thoughts on what this means for the Beales - and indeed all of Walford's residents.
There are some eventful episodes in the lead up to Lucy's death, and some powerful scenes for Hetti. How does she feel about the storyline and how it plays out?
We find out...
Why does Lucy take a chance on Lee?
Because she feels that everyone in her life lies to her and they can't be trusted. She has a lot of trust issues with her friends, obviously with everything that's going on with Max, and her family, she's not getting on with anyone. This boy comes along who is a little bit cheeky; he's from the Army and very confident but isn't afraid to tell her how it is and be honest with her with everything. With Whitney, he's upfront, and when she asks him what is going on, he tells her straight and makes a joke about it and she likes that. Yes, he might be kissing Whitney on the side, but he's honest about it - and that's refreshing and is almost endearing about him.
What does Lucy really feel about Max?
I think she's just a bit unsure about everything. She's got to a point in her life where she's having a bit of a breakdown and nothing is really certain in her head. She's just in a really muddled place with everything that is going on at the moment. She's just following her instinct, rather than figuring out if something is right or wrong or figuring out what her true emotions are, which is why she is getting herself in more and more trouble. She has a lot of problems with her dad and feels that her dad does not believe in her and supporting her so, in a weird twisted way, it's almost as if Max is giving her that fatherly support.
In Lucy’s final week Peter overhears Ian telling Lucy he’s most proud of her. Why is she so upset for Peter?
The twins were always really close in the past, they would bicker but they were a unit and where there was one there was the other. But now the relationship has drifted apart. Even though they are not as close anymore that connection is still there; he is still her twin. They always say that if one twin is upset the other one instantly knows - they share the same emotions. It's not so much that Peter is upset, it's the fact that Ian would even say that he has a favourite. He's obviously trying to tell her nice things but I think it's just sad to see, more on Ian's behalf, that he would do that.
What is her relationship with Ian like?
It's complicated! It's just a general fatherly daughterly love/hate relationship, although it’s actually more like a motherly daughter relationship. She can hate him so much, but then if he sheds a tear or is upset she can't help but feel sympathy. It's really difficult for her to have all that hatred that can go away in a second if he breaks down. That's what she's about and that shows that she does have a heart - she can be emotional. That's a really nice part to their relationship - it does work both ways. In their heart-to-heart she's being so harsh at the beginning and as soon as she breaks down its reciprocated and he does exactly the same. It's love/hate. She loves him but she thinks he can be an idiot!
What does it mean to you to have such a big exit storyline? Did you expect is to have such a big response when it was revealed?
When it was announced it really did go everywhere! I think it's such a big deal for viewers because not only is Lucy an iconic character because she has been in the show for twenty years, but also the whole Beale clan is so iconic and that's why it makes such a big impact. And splitting twins up is so horrific. It's going to be a great story for the Beales and start a new dark chapter for them. That's what the focus is going to be on; it's not going to be so much about the death, it's going to be about afterwards. It’s going to be about the implications of it and everyone's journey. It's a bit scary and overwhelming, and the fact that it's going to go on for so long. I am ecstatic that I got given this opportunity because it’s amazing and challenging and great to be part of such a big storyline.
How do you think viewers will react when they see it on screens?
You see deaths on soaps quite a bit and often they tend to be older characters or they tend to have bad sides to them. What's so sad about this is that Lucy is having all these troubles and she's trying to build her life back up and get her stuff together, thinking this isn't how she's going to live her life and she's going to start a new chapter, and that’s when it all goes wrong.
Do you know who killed Lucy Beale?
No. I thought I was 100% sure and that I had it sussed out in my head, but after talking to everyone else on the cast I’m not sure anymore. Everyone's having little bets and coming up with their own theories.
We have an exclusive video coming soon where Hetti has MUCH more to say... So keep checking back!
