Jessica Fox expected a backlash from ‘Hollyoaks’ viewers over her character’s involvement in Kyle Kelly’s harrowing suicide storyline.
The 37-year-old star’s on-screen fiance – who is played by Adam Rickett – took his own life after losing his battle with depression, and Jessica admitted she was aware of how fans could react to Nancy Osbourne’s behaviour in the build-up.
She told RadioTimes.com: "I think she has come across as uncaring at times and I was worried about that. Nancy is so black and white in her views and goes full throttle often without facts or reasons.
"I knew there would be a backlash in how she treated Kyle in the last few weeks, but the explanation is that Nancy didn’t know he was suffering.
"If I was with someone that behaved erratically, let me down and put my kids’ lives in danger, then I’d think her responses are valid and I’d understood why she behaved the way she did.
"The audience knew the whole picture, and the struggle Kyle went through, but Nancy herself was not aware of that."
Meanwhile, her co-star Adam recently revealed he felt a "sense of personal fear" about taking on such a huge plot.
He said: "When I first heard about the storyline, I was excited as an actor to be able to portray such a dramatic journey, and pride that the team had entrusted me to do it.
"There was also a sense of personal fear. Like all too many I had to walk a similar path in my lifetime and the idea of revisiting that, even in the world of fiction, was slightly daunting.
"In truth though it became an incredibly empowering experience. The sensitivity and heart that the writers put into the story really shone through, and at a time like now, more than ever, I think we need to be highlighting just this sort of issue.
"As sad as I am to say goodbye to Kyle, I have loved being a part of ‘Hollyoaks.’ "