Louisa Lytton "never really thought" she would return to ‘EastEnders’ – but she got into the mood by playing Kaiser Chiefs’ hit ‘Ruby’.
The 29-year-old actress has reprised her role as Ruby Allen on the BBC One soap after 12 years away, and admitted she is looking forward to seeing where her alter-ego’s "life goes" following her shock comeback.
She said: "It’s been 12 years and it’s something I never really thought I would go back and do. It’s interesting to see what she’s become, who she’s become and what’s going to happen next with her. Just to see where her life goes.
"I played that Kaiser Chiefs track at home a few times and then I was back."
Louisa will be involved in a huge storyline in the coming weeks when Ruby is raped as ‘EastEnders’ look to cover the subject of consent – and the former ‘The Bill’ star admits the plot will split the audience.
She said: "Ruby goes on a night out and gets raped in the first few weeks of her return, so I’ve gone back for quite a massive storyline.
"But initially it’s to see her old mate Stacey, who she casually hasn’t seen for 12 years and thinks she’ll throw a text at.
"It’s very important. ‘EastEnders’ has such a diverse audience. They’ve just covered the massive knife crime storyline, and this is more of a consent storyline, showing that it’s not really a grey area.
"I’m working with Rape Crisis, I’m pretty much in contact with them every day. They oversee every script. They’ve been brilliant.
"I think it will really split the audience, their views on consent and what happens to her."
Louisa – who previously played Ruby between 2005 and 2006 – has slotted right back into life on Albert Square, and was even given her old dressing room on the set.
Speaking on BBC Radio 1Xtra, she added: "For years people were like, ‘Are you going to go back? What happened to your character? Is she dead?’ And from nowhere I get a phone call saying, ‘Do you want to come back?’
"I went back and the same woman is on reception, the building is the same, I was given my old dressing room. It’s like going back in time."
Louisa Lytton ‘never thought’ she would return to EastEnders
