Hollyoaks star Ruby O'Donnell, who plays Peri Lomax, has disclosed that she and her real-life boyfriend Nathaniel Dass maintain a strict 'no kissing on set' policy to keep their relationship professional. Dass portrays Dillon Ray on the Channel 4 soap. 'You can’t be all over each other because that’s not professional,' O'Donnell explained.
The actress, 24, also revealed the challenges of working with her partner, admitting that emotional scenes are particularly difficult. 'I can’t even imagine having to cry in front of him in a scene. I couldn’t do it,' she said. However, their on-screen time together is limited, allowing them to maintain boundaries.
O'Donnell teased the upcoming 30th anniversary episodes, which will include a special crossover with the soap Brookside, created by the late Sir Phil Redmond. Former Brookside stars such as Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson are set to appear. 'Everyone’s involved in the anniversary. Peri and Tom are involved. Everyone in the village is at risk and nobody is safe,' she hinted.
Peri Lomax is currently rekindling her relationship with Tom Cunningham, played by Ellis Hollis, after his release from prison. O'Donnell expressed her support for the pairing, stating, 'I’ve always thought Peri and Tom should end up together because they’ve got a daughter.' However, their reconciliation faces a new threat with the return of Clare Devine, who terrorised Tom as a child.
Reflecting on her role, O'Donnell admitted she is glad she is different from her character, describing Peri as 'a bit of an idiot.' She credited co-star Kirsty-Leigh Porter (Leela) for helping her through intense storylines, calling her 'my second mum.'
