Yahoo News Casualty star on Alicia and Eddie's shock rape plot
Casualty kicked off its biggest story of the year tonight (May 26) as Alicia Munroe went home with her new colleague Eddie McAllister.
We already know that the show is tackling a hard-hitting rape storyline with Alicia, and next week's episode will see her wake up distressed and traumatised after her night with the junior doctor turns sinister.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Chelsea Halfpenny – who plays Alicia – to hear all about the harrowing plot, what happens in the aftermath, and whether she could be tempted back to Emmerdale...
What was your reaction when you first heard about this story?
"Well I found out last year that Casualty was going to explore it and I was really proud of the show, but didn't know anymore details at that point. Then Lucy Raffety, our producer, called me into her office and said they wanted to do it with Alicia. I was just so honoured that I'd been given it and that they were trusting me with this. It's such an important storyline, and just personally, I felt a lot of responsibility to do it sensitively."
It's a very topical issue, did you feel a pressure to get it right?
"Yes, although the responsibility hasn't entirely been on my shoulders. The writers and directors have worked really hard to make sure we're delivering this material correctly as everyone will react differently to something like this – no one experience will be the same.
"I know that the writers were constantly referring back to the Rape Crisis team and working with them for any conversation or dialogue that Eddie and Alicia [had], and also for Alicia's journey afterwards. We had to keep going back to them as it was really important to us all that we got it right. So yes, there is a pressure and I was keen to put my own spin on it. I was really nervous."
Can you tell us a bit about the research you've done?
"Well this is something that happens to so many people – although maybe not to that extent. But from the research I've done, I think that the feelings she goes through, like self-doubt, will be something a lot of people can relate to. So it was more a case of always referring back to the director with any concerns or queries I may have.
"We had some amazing directors, who are so lovely. Obviously we are under certain time constraints here which can often make things hard and we are shooting a lot of drama in a week. But with this particular storyline, I just felt like we could have sat and talked about it for hours and the directors allowed us to do that. I felt like I could talk to them about anything and go to them with any questions, and that's really important."
Has it been challenging to play?
"Yes, creatively it has been challenging, but that's often fun to play. This is what we do our jobs for – to play important stories and authentically. But I can't lie that it wasn't difficult. You've got to go somewhere in your head for those scenes, and so it was very tiring on certain days – just playing someone who is so distraught and so tense."
Alicia is obviously very traumatised after her night with Eddie, but he acts completely normally. Does he have a different perspective on it?
"Yes exactly. That is what the storyline is and that's why in the press release it spoke about there being a divide of opinion. We don't see it from one person's perspective and we don't actually see what happened for quite a while. You are going just based on what she is saying and what he is saying.
"Like you say, he is completely flabbergasted as to why she is acting so distant and being so cold to him. She asks to swap mentors so she is mentoring someone else, and anytime he does try and talk to her, she is really sharp with him and avoids eye contact.
"He just can't understand why. In his head, they went home together – even though they probably shouldn't have seeing as she's technically his boss – they'd had a few to drink, and he just thinks she's feeling a bit embarrassed and awkward, which again, this just makes her self-doubt come flooding in even more."
So, is his behaviour the next day innocent? Or is he trying to cover up what he's done?
"I think that's subject to opinion and there are two ways of looking at it. Does he know what he's done and he's trying to butter her up? Or is he genuinely being kind and getting her a coffee because they've spent the night together, in his head, and had a great time? That's what is great about this storyline – it's going to get people talking. It's not through one person's perspective. It's up to you what you make of it.
Lucy mentioned last year that this story divided the team at Casualty and would probably divide the audience as well. Do you agree?
"Yes definitely. I think for the first few episodes after and before Alicia finally says what happened in her opinion it definitely will. Until then, we are literally basing any opinions on the way she is acting, the way he is acting and anything they do say to each other – which isn't a lot in terms of the discussion of that night. So yes, up to that point, I think it will divide opinion. Eventually we will find out more though, and see a bit more, and I think that's when think opinions will be more clear-cut. But until then, it's very much: who do you believe?"
How do you expect viewers to react to Eddie? Do you reckon there could be some people taking his side?
"Well the only backlash he really gets is Alicia being cold towards him. I don't know that anyone should feel sorry for him, but maybe I'm being biased! However, I do think some people will possibly think, 'Is she being harsh on this guy?' because we only know what happened from what she is saying and the way it's affecting her directly. That said, I don't think anyone could look at Alicia, and how distraught she is emotionally and physically, and think that what she is saying happened, didn't happen."
How is Alicia going to cope with seeing Eddie at work every day?
"It going to be very difficult and I think it completely panics her. What's happened is distressing enough, but [you] can't imagine then seeing the person at work every single day. It's very distracting, and I also [think] the way he is acting afterwards makes her self-doubt creep in even more so."
Can you tell us much about the aftermath? Is she going to confide in anyone?
"Yes, but it takes her a long time to tell anyone and that's what the next episodes are going to be exploring. I think the audience are going to be screaming "please tell somebody". But we had to make it authentic and from the research we've done, we've learned that there are lots of people who don't tell anybody and who never tell anybody because they think it's easier to pretend it never happened.
"Obviously, once you do, it opens so many doors and people who are going to want to help you, but it's a case of: does she want that help? That's what the next few episodes are going to explore – is she going to tell somebody, and who is she going to tell?
"I think the audience would love her to tell Ethan because he's such a nice guy and they know he will be understanding. But as you'll see at the end of the next episode, it's a lot more complicated than that and it's not that easy to just tell someone."
Does this mean that she's going to keep it to herself for a while?
"Yes, for quite a while. I think it's important we didn't just have her reveal it after one episode. Again, from the research we've done, we learned that some people never tell anyone, and if they do, it can take years and years of that internal dialogue of: do I even want to go there?
"It's going to change her as well. We are going to see her grow up. She's going to be less naive and she'll start taking herself more seriously. It propels her to want to strive for better in her own life as well."
Where does this leave her and Ethan? Can you see a future for them?
"I don't think that's even on her radar at this moment in time. I think when she is dealing with it, it's very much just about that.
"You'll see in the next episode that he is who she wants to tell the most because he is the person she has the most history with at work – he's a comfort and he's so lovely. But I don't think getting back together at this stage is something she is considering. It's just not on her radar."
Would you like to see them back together eventually? It's clearly what the fans want…
"Obviously I want a happy ending for Alicia. When you play a character for so long, it's always nice. And also for Ethan too as he's not had the best year ever! So yes, it would definitely be nice for them to have some happiness."
On a lighter note, huge congratulations on the BAFTA. What has the atmosphere been like on set since the win?
"Everyone is just so humbled, because Casualty hasn't won for about 12 years I think. After 12 ceremonies of being told no, you kind of just assume it won't go to you. Even though we won the NTA, which was also a big surprise, we were still just genuinely shocked – and I think you could tell that from our reactions on the night. We were clapping for what we thought was going to be Coronation Street as we heard the 'C', and then we were like, 'it's us'.
"I'm just so proud of everyone who has worked on the show for so long and that they are finally getting recognition – the writers, production team, and the cast and crew who have been doing it for so long. Obviously I'm biased but I think the show is great and I know how much passion and hard work goes into it. I am just really chuffed for everybody."
Do you ever see yourself going back to Emmerdale?
"Right now, I'm very happy just being here at Casualty and doing this storyline. So not for now but I did see all the Emmerdale cast at the BAFTAS which was really nice. I miss them so much and I've still got so many friends there. But yeah, I am here for now."
Do you feel like you made the right choice to leave Emmerdale when you did?
"Yes definitely. You leave acting jobs for new challenges and I did a couple of plays afterwards, which was amazing. I didn't go to drama school so any job I get, I am learning on the job. Having that experience was great, and then joining Casualty was a whole new challenge.
"Playing an emergency doctor every day is challenging with all the medical stuff we have to do and then getting to do stuff like this storyline makes me realise why you do move on from jobs. It's nothing to do with the job itself, and I absolutely loved Emmerdale and I love Casualty as well – it's never to do with the job itself. The people are always so nice and it's so hard to go, but it's a career choice so you can move on and be challenged."
Casualty continues on Saturday, June 2 on BBC One.
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