Former EastEnders star Joshua Pascoe has revealed the clever trick Steve McFadden used to make Phil Mitchell look convincingly drunk on screen. Pascoe, who played Ben Mitchell, explained that McFadden applied a tear stick directly on his eyelid to create bloodshot eyes, mimicking intoxication.
Pascoe recalled his first meeting with McFadden during his final audition for the role of Ben. The script involved a scene where Ben picks up a packet of cigarettes, and McFadden's character snatches them away. This early interaction showcased McFadden's natural acting ability.
Drunk Acting Technique
Pascoe was particularly impressed by McFadden's method for drunk scenes. He explained that while a tear stick is typically used under the eyes to simulate crying, McFadden placed it on his eyelid, causing his eyes to turn red raw. This made him look genuinely intoxicated.
"Even when he had done a few drunk scenes, there’s a thing called tear stick that acts as if you’ve been crying in a scene and all of a sudden you just dry up," Pascoe said. "They stick it under your eyes and then you start crying. This boy was so clever, he got this tear stick and he stuck it right on his eyelid, so his eyes went red raw, his pupils went red raw, and I’m not being funny, he looked drunk."
Learning from a Soap Legend
Pascoe joined EastEnders at age 16 and learned valuable lessons from experienced actors like McFadden. He noted that watching McFadden's techniques helped him grow as an actor. "All those little things that I picked up from working with certain people really helped me to grow," he said. "It was so interesting to learn on the job."
Despite facing criticism from some viewers, Pascoe appreciated the support of long-standing professionals on the show. He also reflected on how life after EastEnders meant losing touch with former co-stars, comparing acting to other jobs where people move on to new projects.
Life After EastEnders
Pascoe acknowledged that while he left Walford, his time on the soap provided invaluable experience. He is now focusing on building his adult site portfolio and can be found on Instagram and OnlyFans.
