Emmerdale kicks off a surprising new storyline for Brenda Walker next week as she starts shoplifting.
Brenda is still grieving for her late daughter Gennie when she finds that the thrill of stealing items provides a welcome escape from her feelings of sadness.
Here, Lesley Dunlop - who plays Brenda - explains the latest twist for her character and why things will get worse over the next few weeks.
How would you describe Brenda's current state of mind?
"Well, she's had a horrible Christmas. She's been missing Gennie and of course Molly, who has been ripped from her arms by her son-in-law Nikhil. So she's been very low over Christmas. Bob and her friends have tried to cheer her up, which works for a bit, but she can't get over what's happened."
How does the grief affect Brenda's relationship with Bob?
"Bob doesn't really know what to do - he just feels helpless. Brenda doesn't like it either, as she doesn't want to be miserable all the time. It is affecting their relationship."
Bob suggests that Brenda should attend a grief counselling service that Harriet is running at the church hall. How does she react?
"At first Brenda says that she absolutely doesn't want to go. She doesn't think it will help and the last thing she wants to do is sit in a group and talk about her feelings when she can't even talk to Bob about them. In the end she does go because she's got to do something.
"It's Bob who changes her mind and she thinks that she's got to do something to get out of this situation. She also wants to convince Bob that she does want to get out of it. Brenda says that she'll go once, but if she doesn't like it, she won't go back."
© ITV
Brenda attends the bereavement group
How do things go with the group?
"Brenda goes in and thinks, 'Oh this might help'. She meets Ruby there, they go into things and Brenda does start talking. It seems like it's going to be good for her, but in the end she just doesn't feel anything from it."
What happens next?
"Brenda goes into David's shop and she's still feeling funny about it all. Jude, the lovely curate, comes and asks about how it went. Brenda gets in a state and doesn't want to talk about it, so she leaves the shop. She's been looking at tights and then finds that she's actually still got a pack of the tights in her hand.
"Brenda goes to take them back, but she gets a little buzz and lift from it. She finds herself walking away and not taking them back. This gives her a slightly euphoric feeling. I think it's because she finds out it's a two-pack - it makes her even happier! (Laughs.)"
What would you say is the psychology behind Brenda's shoplifting?
"I think it is the buzz that she gets. It also distracts and takes away from the pain in her heart, the anxiety and the grief. At least the question of 'will she get caught?' isn't as bad as that sick feeling of grief she has. It does give her a rush of adrenaline."
Is there a part of Brenda that wants to be caught?
"I don't think so, no. She worries very much about being caught, but that feeling is better than the pain that she has with the loss of her daughter and granddaughter."
Brenda steals an expensive bag and gives it to Kerry as a present, but Georgia notices that it's very expensive. How does Brenda explain it?
"She just says that it's a cheap version and didn't cost very much!"
© ITV
Kerry becomes suspicious of Brenda's behaviour.
Brenda and Kerry are getting closer in general. Could Kerry be a bad influence?
"I don't think we see Kerry being a bad influence, apart from when Bob says to Brenda that she can't give away presents like that. Kerry says, 'Yes she can!' But I don't think Kerry has an unkind bone in her body - she's just a bit like Brenda in the way that she puts her foot in it and says the wrong things. They've got a good friendship."
Next week also sees Georgia decide to take a trip to Canada to visit Nikhil and Molly. How does Brenda feel about that?
"She's mortified. Of course she can't go herself, and that jealousy will come out in a rather childlike way. It also perpetuates the stealing. She forgets about the consequences and enjoys that buzz. Stealing is her drug of choice, I suppose."
The twins' birthday is also coming up. What is Brenda's plan for their presents?
"To nick them! She wants to get them exactly what they want, and it gives her another opportunity to steal something. Because she's doing it for the twins she sees it as a good thing. But today I've done a scene where Brenda steals a customer's purse, so it is going to get worse."
How do you think Bob would react if he found out what Brenda was up to?
"I think it would be quite tricky for him to understand it. It's a hard thing to understand."
Have you enjoyed this twist to Brenda's grief story?
"I'm still waiting to see how it concludes, but it's great, interesting and good to play. It's how it is concluded that I'm interested in, because I don't know myself yet."
What does the future hold for Brenda?
"Well, it's not looking good if she's just going to make matters worse! It looks at the moment that it does escalate…"
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by ccahill2
