EastEnders actor Stephen Aaron-Sipple has revealed that his character Mark Fowler's attraction to Lauren Branning is driven by guilt and the fact that she has taken the place of a family member in his life. Since Mark's aunt Sam Mitchell left Walford, Lauren has filled that gap and become one of the few people he can open up to.
Mark's Vulnerability
Despite attempts to resist one another, Mark and Lauren are drawn together. Stephen Aaron-Sipple shared: "Beyond the physical attraction, Mark sees Lauren as his equal. She challenges him, stands up to him, and isn’t intimidated by him. He’s always been surrounded by strong females, so there’s something about Lauren’s strength and honesty that really draws him in."
When Mark taunts Lauren by flirting with Jack's colleague, the actor explained: "He’s trying to get Lauren’s attention, just in completely the wrong way! Seeing her with Peter has hurt him, so he makes a bad decision and tries to make her jealous."
Confession and Guilt
Mark admits his feelings for Lauren but is interrupted by Peter. Stephen Aaron-Sipple said: "Very vulnerable. Mark likes to be in control, but in that moment he’s completely exposed. Not only has he admitted how he feels, but he’s also left without an answer from Lauren, which is something he’s really not used to."
The actor also noted that Mark's guilt over manipulating Lauren into dealing with illegal cars has been eating away at him: "Absolutely. He felt guilty about it when he was doing it with Sam, and as he and Lauren have grown closer, that guilt has only intensified."
A Softer Side
Viewers see a softer side of Mark this week. Stephen Aaron-Sipple commented: "It’s been great fun. Nobody is tough all the time, so it’s been nice exploring a different side of Mark beyond his hard-man persona. We all have people we can let our guard down with, and for Mark, Lauren has become that person."
When asked if Mark and Lauren could make a good couple, he said: "They already make a great team. There’s a lot of mutual respect between them, and neither of them judges the other. They could make a great couple and, in another world, maybe they already would be. The problem is there are quite a few obstacles standing in their way right now!"
