EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders fan favourite Libby Fox will be back in Albert Square this week after nine years away from Walford (not counting the surprising flash-forward in the New Year's Day episode), coinciding with major storylines for mum Denise and sister Chelsea.
With her return about to air, actor Belinda Owusu has reflected on Libby's role in the storylines, as well as on how things have changed since she was last a regular cast member.
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"It's such a big moment for the family, and Libby would want to be there", she said.
"When the Foxes first arrived, they were a tight-knit trio of strong women with each others' backs. It's been lovely to revisit that dynamic within a bigger, evolved family.
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"It also marks Diane [Parish]'s 20th anniversary, and I happened to be there on the day, which felt very serendipitous. We reflected on how full circle it all felt, I'm now the same age she was when she joined, and like her then, I have two children. It was special to celebrate that with her.
"There's something meaningful about a show giving you that sense of family over so many years."
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She said that her flash-forward scene with Patrick Trueman actor Rudolph Walker was a "nice way to ease back in", and while it was her first time working with current Chelsea actor Zaraah Abrahams, they "clicked straight away".
"Although the sets are different, it immediately felt like home, with a real sense of nostalgia", she said, adding: "That speaks to the show's energy, things change, but the warmth remains."
Speaking of Chelsea, Owusu teased that the siblings will fall into their old dynamics and "bicker like kids", though the emotions are running higher than usual due to the situation.
"Libby feels guilty she hasn’t been around to notice something was wrong, which makes her defensive, while Chelsea is likely dealing with her own guilt. They process things differently, and that tension comes out in conflict", she explained.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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