EastEnders' latest romantic pairing has come as a bit of a surprise for fans, with unlikely couple Ruby Allen and Max Branning embarking on a secret fling – despite the fact that Max was previously involved with Ruby's best friend Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner).
But actress Louisa Lytton, who plays Ruby, has revealed that she's actually keen to see their budding relationship develop further.
"Jake Wood [who plays Max] is such a good actor and I love working with him," she told The Sun's Fabulous Magazine.
"We get on so well. Obviously I knew him years ago when I was a lot younger, but it doesn't feel weird. There's no discomfort."
Related: EastEnders' Stacey Fowler gets a shock as Max and Ruby's romance begins
She continued: "I'm really loving it. For me it's great because he's such a popular character, so to be put with him really centres Ruby. She's been through a lot, but she's back on the other side now and I think it's going to be quite a good partnership.
What to Read Next
"Max might finally be out-Maxed!"
Ruby and Max's new relationship comes after Ruby was involved in a harrowing sexual consent storyline after her return to the Square last year.
The story came to a head in April when Ruby testified against the two men who raped her following a night out and the pair were found guilty and convicted.
Reflecting on the plot line, Louisa says that she believes the storyline has had a positive impact in the real world.
"It's real and it's happening every single day," she said. "I have loads of women reaching out to me, even now, saying this has given them the confidence to speak out and helped them accept what happened to them for what it was.
"They felt able to tell their partners or husbands, so it seems to have had a really positive impact on people."
Louisa also recently celebrated getting engaged to her boyfriend Ben Bhanvra and revealed that they are planning to marry next summer – although she added that she hadn't been expecting to meet anyone at all when they first got together.
"For the first time I was very happy on my own and I felt all right," Louisa explained.
"I didn't need anyone. And then I met Ben and it was like: 'Shit.' It happens when you least expect it. We clicked from the off and I just knew."
EastEnders airs on BBC One.
Read more news, spoilers and gossip on our EastEnders homepage
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest EastEnders spoilers, as Callum struggles ahead of the wedding and Habiba sets a trap for Adam.
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
