Niamh admits to being nervous about doing the story justice, but reckons it’s some of the best work she has ever done (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Hollyoaks fans are finding themselves deeply worried for Juliet Nightingale, following a trailer which confirmed a cancer storyline for the popular character.
And now, actress Niamh Blackshaw has been talking to Metro.co.uk about the ‘heavy and serious’ story ahead and her initial nerves, but excitement at taking it on.
Amid the tragedy, the star also reflects on Juliet’s love story with Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell) and why she hasn’t been surprised to see the romance revisited.
Here, Niamh opens up on being proud of the best work she has ever done, the #Jeri fanbase, and the prank she played on I’m A Celebrity star Owen Turner.
What can you tell us about Juliet’s upcoming story?
I really can’t say that much, but what I can say that there are some big scenes and a big storyline coming up and there has been a suggestion that it’s about cancer, so it’s a heavy, emotional topic that so real for so many people, I feel so grateful to be involved with that. I am excited to say more at the right time, I guess
How did you react when you were first told this was coming up?
My first reaction was worry, I guess. I didn’t want to mess it up and I didn’t know what it meant for Juliet. But I was also really excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to do something dark and so issue based.
I have been so lucky with all of the storylines I have been given while I’m here, and some really powerful issue based stories, coming from County Lines to something else. Sid’s gone now, and allof that so it’s a new chapter and I’m all for it. I am grateful to be given the story.
You will be a few weeks into filming it now; are you finding it challenging?
Niamh has enjoyed working with Greg and Kieron closely on the story (Picture Lime Pictures)
Yeah, what we saw in the trailer were with Greg and Kieron, so it’s been really nice to work with the parents and the adults – I still don’t class myself as an adult! It’s good to work with them more as I have been generally working with more peer-age characters like Peri and Nadira.
There have been really challenging scenes and long, hard days and everybody wants to do it right. It’s not laughing and jokey, it’s very serious. I think it’s some of my best work here. I am really proud of it and what everyone else has brought to it.
It’s really challenging but I think what’s when the best work comes out. So it’s been good.
So would you say that amid the darkness of the story, there is family and love at the heart? Is that important to you?
Oh yeah absolutely. These stories don’t exist without the relationships around them, it would be boring just for one person to be effectively talking to themselves, that’s not how it works in the real world so it’s not how it works here.
Building relationships is all a great team effort, everyone is bringing their A-game and we’re all working on it really hard so I am just grateful that it’s with them.
I’ve been here for so long so I have established really great relationships with people. It wouldn’t be this storyline without everyone around Juliet; it’s about love, family and affection.
It’s important that you trust one another as actors to get this effect across on screen?
The audience have known the extent of Juliet’s relationships with different characters for so long which makes it even more hard hitting because everyone can relate just a little bit more because we’ve had the time.
Did you always know that Juliet and Peri would fall back onto one another’s radar again?
Niamh always knew there was unfinished business between Juliet and Peri (Picture: Lime Pictures)
I had an inkling that something was going to happen but I didn’t know why, where or when – but there was always the potential so I wasn’t shocked when they had that little kiss in the gym. There’s a lot of unfinished business there, not just leaving it to the imagination and wondering what if. I wasn’t shocked it has been visited again, it probably needed to be.
It must feel nice that there is such a passionate fanbase behind the couple?
Yeah, definitely. It’s great to work with different people, I’ve really enjoyed working with Ash.
I have known Ruby since I started here so there’s a lot of familiarity there. But I have really enjoyed everyone I have worked with, a great group people across the board, so you can’t say more than that!
How do you think Owen (Warner) is doing in I’m A Celebrity?
A lot of people think he’s putting on this persona, but he’s really not! That’s exactly what he’s like! He’s so cute! One time I convinced him that if you buy a BMW, you get this road rule exemption card which is why BMW owners are notoriously bad drivers.
I had to go back to him and tell him I was winding him up, he totally believed it! He’s just so trusting and loving, that he just absorbs everything. I think he is coming across really authentic, I am really proud of him and proud to be his on-screen sister.
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Do you think he can win?
I don’t see why not, he’s only been in four days so a lot can change in that time but, I know him, he’s a really great guy and he’d deserve to win.
There’s a good group of them in with him, so all you can do is keep your fingers crossed.
Would you ever consider doing the show?
Oh I couldn’t answer that!’ she laughed. ‘I honestly don’t see it for me, but I see it for him and I am so happy for him that he is out there and smashing it.
I can’t wait for the stories he will have to tell when he gets back.
The actress also discusses Owen Warner’s I’m A Celebrity performance.
