Lorraine Stanley is "already worrying" about her two-year-old daughter becoming a potential victim of knife crime.
The ‘EastEnders’ actress is hoping viewers of the BBC One soap will "emotionally" relate to this week’s harrowing storyline which will see Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) stabbed to death after he and pal Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) are caught up in a war with a gang.
Lorraine – who has daughter Nancy – said: "A child can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They don’t even have to be in a gang.
"I’ve got a two-and-a-half year-old daughter, I live in London and I’m already worrying. I just want to get out of London.
"But it’s not just London – that’s the thing. It’s every parents’ nightmare and that’s why viewers will relate to it emotionally.
"I hope it changes attitudes. A lot of kids watch it, so if it stops just one person, it’s had an impact. It’s a scary thing because it ruins lives. Everyone loses out."
Lorraine is "glad" ‘EastEnders’ are covering the hard-hitting plot and believes the aftermath scenes will be "more interesting" than the attack.
She added to Radio Times magazine: "There are some very dark moments and I get some gritty scenes with Bonnie Langford, who plays Carmel.
"In the aftermath, you’ll see the community come together, which I think will be more interesting to watch than the attack itself.
"You’ll see what makes and breaks people. Unfortunately, knife crime is happening every day and it needs to stop.
"’EastEnders’ is such a good platform for a storyline like this because so people watch it and can relate to it. I’m glad they’re doing the storyline."
While the incident spells the end of Shaheen’s stint on the soap, he recently admitted he feels "really proud" to have been trusted with such a big exit plot.
He said: "This is a massive responsibility for everyone involved in the storyline. Especially right now with how intense the problems of knife crime have become around the UK. I’m really pleased we’re doing this storyline – it’s so important.
"I feel really proud. As an actor, I was excited when John [Yorke] first told me the idea of what was going to happen. It’s hopefully going to help so many people and bring light to the situation.
"It’s something that needs to be spoken about, especially at this moment in time. I’m so grateful and humbled."
‘EastEnders’ have teamed up with former star Brooke Kinsella – who played Kelly Taylor on the show from 2001 to 2004 – to work on the knife crime story after she started the Ben Kinsella Trust in memory of her brother, who was fatally stabbed in June 2008.
Lorraine Stanley ‘worrying’ about knife crime
