Casey Al-Shaqsy, who plays Serena Sugden in Emmerdale, has confirmed that her character is not afraid of anyone, but worries about the consequences of her lies for her family. Serena, who recently moved into Emmerdale Farm after reconnecting with cousin Robert Sugden, has been caught stealing a USB stick from Home Farm and hiding her past involvement with John Sugden.
Serena's secretive behaviour
Serena's introductory storyline saw her help Charity Dingle by a lake, leading to Charity confessing her secrets. Later, Serena was revealed to be a distant relative of Sarah and Robert Sugden. She clashed with Aaron Dingle, who suspected she was like John Sugden. Aaron's suspicions seemed confirmed when he found photos of Serena with John on her phone, despite her claiming she hadn't seen him in years.
Serena explained she fell for John's charm, and Robert gave her another chance. However, alone, she was seen snooping through a USB stick stolen from Home Farm, indicating she is still digging for answers.
Casey Al-Shaqsy on Serena's mindset
Casey Al-Shaqsy said: 'She has quite an aggressive background in the police force; you know, she talks to Robert and others about some of her famous fighting stories. As a person, I actually do kickboxing as well, so I relate to her in that way! But I don't think she's afraid of anyone. The only worry she has about being caught is that she's lied so much.'
She added: 'As I like to say, it's not really lying; it's just not telling the full truth. But her being caught at Home Farm – after lying about being in the police, not disclosing how much she knew John, finding the photos, and keeping Charity's secrets – feels like just another secret to add to the pile. It could get her into more trouble with her family, which is a problem for her. But she's doing it for what she believes are good reasons.'
Family bond with Robert
Reflecting on Serena and Robert's bond, Casey said: 'I think there may be eventual growth, but Serena and Robert are both happy to see each other. They both love each other very much. I think what a lot of people can relate to is having a family member whom you haven't seen in 15 years, but they're still your blood.'
She teased: 'I think, regardless of what happens, Robert loves Serena. Obviously, if she did anything truly nuts, I'm sure there'd be consequences, but with what's going on right now, you're seeing a very familial bond that a lot of people can relate to.'
The actress confirmed Serena will 'morally' put 'herself in bad situations for other people' in future storylines.
