Letitia Dean was "quite nervous" about filming during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ‘EastEnders’ actress – who insisted the BBC soap’s team have "done an amazing job" creating a safe and simple work environment – admitted returning to set has been "challenging".
She said: "I was quite nervous at first at filming with the new restrictions.
"It’s been challenging but the team have done an amazing job and made it as easy as possible, while also making it incredibly safe.
"It’s obviously very different now, how we film with social distancing measures in place, but we’re going to great lengths to ensure it’s still the ‘EastEnders’ everyone knows and loves."
The 52-year-old star – who has been Sharon Watts on Albert Square on and off since 1985 – "truly missed" the whole cast and crew when filming was suspended due to the pandemic.
She added: "I just wish I could give everyone a hug! I truly missed everyone during the shutdown and it was so nice to see them all again.
"I didn’t realise how much I missed working until we were all back there together, it was wonderful."
The soap will return to screens on September 7th, after being off air since June 16th after running out of episodes due to the coronavirus lockdown.
And Jon Sen, executive producer, recently opened up on the decision to use actors’ real life significant others as "supporting artists", which would ensure intimate scenes could still be filmed.
He said: "We hit on the idea of supporting artists from the same household to reflect the world outside.
"Of course, they can get closer together than the two metres or they can be kissing in the street.
"It really adds to the sense of life."
This comes after it was revealed ‘EastEnders’ actors have still been able to shoot smooching scenes by using plastic screens, which are then edited out afterwards.