Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) is coming to the end of her life in EastEnders, after devastating scenes revealed that her brain tumour has spread and there is nothing more that can be done for her.
Unfortunately, Lola’s death means that the cast will lose co-star and friend Danielle Harold, who has played Lola since 2011, as she embarks on the next stage of her career.
Reflecting on her final scenes, Danielle revealed just how ‘difficult’ they were to film.
‘It was definitely the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. To put yourself in that mindset, it was really difficult to slow the body down, doing the breathing, everything.
‘I thought that would be the easiest part, but I definitely struggled the most because the vibe on set was very, just so respectful, I can’t tell you how respectful it felt, it really was a completely different vibe that I had never felt before.
‘I think it was because everyone on set had been affected by cancer, it just meant so much to everybody that we got it correct.’
Danielle went on to explain how she had to listen to characters like Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) say their goodbyes to Lola, while trying to keep it together herself.
‘I really struggled and it was really difficult, and I had to listen to these guys say their goodbyes and not cry!
‘I had to ask the medical advisor whether you’re able to cry at that stage, and they explained that you’re able to hear, which really helped to play those last scenes.’
Despite how upsetting her final scenes were, Danielle admitted that she couldn’t have asked for a better final storyline, and thanked show boss Chris Clenshaw for allowing her to explore Lola in a new light.
‘I can’t thank Chris enough. It’s been the best exit; I can’t thank him enough for the way it’s been done’, she said.
‘It wasn’t just the exit, but he really did let me play out all of Lola’s life as well in the space of a very short time. Obviously, I’ve been at the show for so many years, but we’ve never really dug into Lola at all!
‘To be able to find out her whole life in the space of this, has been pretty amazing, there have just been so many different things that I’ve always wondered about Lola as well, so to find it all out and work out all the answers, it’s just been such a lovely journey.’
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