Sophia Capasso overcame her ‘EastEnders’ nerves by hiding behind her "bold and scary" character.
The former ‘Holby City’ star admits she was anxious about her first-ever scene on Albert Square in fried chicken shop McKlunky’s, but because her no-nonsense character is so stern she doesn’t have a chance to show her "nervous" side.
She said: "It was in McKlunky’s – the scene where the phone goes flying across the screen.
"That was actually the part I was most nervous about. It was really scary.
"But because Evie comes in being bold and scary, I could hide behind that, and didn’t have to show too much of my nerves."
While Sophia can hide behind Evie on-screen, the star doesn’t need to in auditions because she finds them more "exciting" rather than anxiety-filled.
She said: "I used to have really bad nerves, but now I get more excited than nervous.
"Breathing properly is a good tip – three seconds in, three seconds out.
"I think that’s the best help, because it gives you something else to focus on.
"And trusting in yourself that if you’ve done the prep, then there’s nothing else you can do."
The star admits it is "great fun" portraying the drug-dealing character, but insists she isn’t much like her alter-ego.
She added to Inside Soap magazine: "I don’t think we’re much alike. It’s great fun playing Evie, though, as she doesn’t have any of the boundaries people usually have in everyday life – it’s not often you get to say the sort of things she says.
"But just like every character with a front, there’s a story behind it."
EastEnders’ Sophia Capasso hid behind character to disguise nerves
