Being bad is good for Eastenders star Lorna Fitzgerald

EASTENDERS star Lorna Fitzgerald says it’s good being bad but it has led to some viewers giving her a wide berth.

Lorna plays Abi Branning in the BBC’s soap and she’s right at the tensely-beating heart of the trial that’s gripping millions.

The show celebrated its milestone 30th birthday earlier this year with the climactic live episode that revealed that it was young Bobby who killed troubled Lucy.

But Abi’s sneaky word has put Jake Wood’s Max in the dock for murder.

And Lorna admits that the storyline has made fans re-evaluate her character.

“I’ve certainly got a lot of Jake Wood fans hating me!” laughs Lorna as she catches up with The Sunday Post after another busy morning’s filming at the famous Elstree studios set.

“But I think the reaction has probably been more 50/50 between those who don’t like the new side of Abi and those who really love it with her having been innocent and quite quiet.”

Lorna says a sit-down chat with the drama’s big boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins revealed the change of character for Abi. And how Charlie Brooks’ Janine Butcher had a part to play.

Abi, Charlie, Carol and Fatboy throw a welcome home tea party for Dot (BBC / Kieron McCarron)

“Dom told me that there would be a bit of a darker side to Abi,” confides Abi.

“He said they were slightly modelling it on Janine. Obviously I loved it because Janine is such an iconic character and I loved watching Charlie.

“I thought she was great so even to be compared to her was brilliant and I really jumped at the chance.

“I was too young to see everything she did but I’ve seen all the clips of Barry and that stuff.

“I think the idea is that Abi is sort of vulnerable but that comes out in a bitchy way.

“Although I’ve watched Charlie’s stuff you’ve got to have your own edge to it so I’ve tried to develop it myself.”

Lorna can’t help but smile when she thinks of the reaction she’s had over the past few months.

And she bursts into laughter when she I tell her that Corrie’s Sean Ward confided to me that he’s even been asked for drugs when out with his mum by those confusing him with his screen bad-boy Callum.

“No! Really? Most people are all right with me.

They’ll come up and say, ‘I don’t believe your character has done that’.

“I can see some just staring at me and thinking; ‘Should I say anything? You’re actually crazy!’”

Abi in court (BBC / Jack Barnes)

The trial began on the soap last week with Abi starting to do the right thing but, realising she has been set up by lawyer Marcus and Max, tells the court that Max killed Lucy.

But she then opens up about her guilt and admits to the court that she lied about what Max said.

Fuming that Max tried to set up Abi, a livid Lauren visits Max and tells him he’s on his own.

“The trial was really fun to film,” she says.

“There were so many things going on and every character has their own story.

“It’s been nice to play Abi turning against her dad. I think the outcome will be something viewers don’t expect.”

Although she’s just 19 Lorna has spent the best part of a decade in the soap bubble. She joined the show in 2006 and has grown up with everything the intense media scrutiny brings.

But she seems to have taken the headlines and attention in her stride, just as she did the live episode, something the Corrie cast are gearing up for this week.

“I love the live stuff,” she enthuses.

“Especially the stuff with Jake and Jo. It was a challenge but you don’t get that rush when it’s pre-recorded.

“I wasn’t nervous until there was about five seconds to go.”

Abi’s darker side has led to Lorna being nominated as Best Bad Girl at one of the soap world’s big nights.

“It’s a real honour but it was quite funny seeing me up as a bad girl,” she adds.

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