Louisa Lytton has recently returned to EastEnders after 12 years away.
Her character Ruby Allen will soon be at the centre of a hard-hitting consent storyline, when she believes she’s been raped, but the accused calls her a liar.
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EastEnders fans were thrilled when Louisa’s comeback was announced earlier this year, with many no doubt wondering what she’d been up to since she left Albert Square in 2006.
TV viewers will know that she popped up in drama Murdoch Mysteries and Edge Of Heaven, as well as playing PC Beth Green in The Bill until 2009.
But now the 29-year-old has revealed she also did ‘normal’ jobs to pay the rent.
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Speaking to The Sun, Louisa said: “Don’t get me wrong, I have been very lucky and I have worked the majority of the time but I have had down periods.
“I’ve worked on reception at a yoga studio, I’ve been childminding, just normal jobs really.”
She added: “It’s not all fun and games. It’s a hard industry to be in. You’re out of work more than you’re in work the majority of the time. It is what it is.
“I was very lucky to land a high profile job to begin with. But like every other actor I know times are sometimes hard and you have to get part time jobs.”
The actress later went on her official Instagram page to clarify what she’d said to her 49,200 followers.
In a candid post, she went on to say: “So recently I said in an interview that I have had other jobs aside from acting. […] It was no ‘secret’ hence why we discussed it in the interview, working as a receptionist and a childminder are both credible and rewarding jobs – that pay well too!
“A job is a job we all have bills to pay. […] I guess what I’m trying to say is this merry go round of the ‘industry’ is normally something we all hop on and off of. And getting another job is part of it.
“I don’t have one single ‘actor’ friend that hasn’t faced this. You are never safe.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BojNqRun9oJ/?hl=en&taken-by=louisanastrilytton
The actress also admitted she jumped at the chance of returning as Ruby and tackling such a controversial issue, with consent often regarded as a “grey area”.
In upcoming scenes, Ruby will sleep with one man willingly after a night out, but is then raped by his friend while she’s semi-conscious.
Louisa, who has been working alongside Rape Crisis, told the newspaper: “It’s an everyday issue and something people tend to say is a grey area but actually it isn’t – it’s very black and white – it’s either consented sex or it’s rape.”
The consent storyline is due to kick off next week after she attends a party with Martin Fowler’s friends.
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