Comedian and actress Ronni Ancona has spoken candidly about the 'bizarre' experience of joining the cast of EastEnders, years after she famously impersonated its characters on television.
From Impressions to Albert Square
Ancona, who starred alongside Alastair McGowan in the hit show The Big Impression, is set to make her debut as Bea, an old school friend of Linda Carter. The character will first appear during a school reunion episode, where past events are viewed very differently by the two women.
"Bea was in a more senior year at school than Linda, but that didn't stop her being intimidated by her," Ancona revealed. "They have both got very different perspectives on what happened at school, and initially she is very upset and slighted by that."
A Complex and Mercurial Character
Teasing what viewers can expect, Ancona described Bea as a multifaceted individual. "She's a mercurial character who is witty, and charismatic, yet vulnerable as well," she said. The actress explained that Executive Producer Ben Wadey wanted a character who blended tragedy and comedy.
"Bea is misunderstood, and there's a touch of desperation about her. When she feels cornered, she can become rather dangerous," Ancona shared. "Deep down, she just wants to be loved and to fit in. She's the sort of person who 'window-shops' other people's lives."
She added that the character is intelligent but frustrated, never having achieved her potential, and possesses a Walter Mitty-like quality where her stories may not be entirely true.
A Surreal Full-Circle Moment
Ancona confessed that stepping onto the Albert Square set was a deeply surreal experience, especially given her history with the soap. Her first scene was filmed on the iconic bench in the square—the very same spot where she and McGowan once filmed their famous 'Bench of Tears' sketch.
"That moment was so surreal I immediately phoned him to say, 'I've just done a scene on the bench of tears,' and he practically shouted, 'NO WAY!'" she recalled.
The oddness was compounded by reuniting with crew members from her past shows and by filming in The Queen Vic pub for the first time. "I couldn't help remembering my impression of Peggy Mitchell, played by the much-missed Barbara Windsor," Ancona said emotionally. "I adored her, and I know she enjoyed the impression, so walking into her domain properly was a real moment."
Despite initial nerves about meeting cast members she'd once impersonated, she was met with warmth and humour. Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater, even performed Ancona's own impression of her back to the comedian.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
