EastEnders actress Kitty Castledine, who plays Penny Branning, has landed a major pregnancy storyline on the BBC One soap. In recent episodes, Penny revealed she is expecting a baby, leaving her father Jack Branning shocked after he discovered a positive pregnancy test.
Kitty, 24, is herself a wheelchair user, having been diagnosed with transverse myelitis at the age of seven. The rare condition affects the central nervous system and left her paralysed from the waist down. Her mother, Lucy Alexander, known for presenting Homes Under the Hammer, has spoken openly about the family's journey.
Discussing her character's storyline, Kitty said Penny feels 'scared' about the pregnancy and the prospect of becoming a disabled young mum. She added that Penny wants to keep the pregnancy secret initially, as she struggles to process the news.
Penny's paralysis in the show stems from a revenge attack targeting Jack, which severed her spinal cord. Kitty's real-life experience with a wheelchair informs her portrayal of the character.
