Emma Barton wants her 'EastEnders' character Honey Mitchell to become the next Dot Cotton.
Emma Barton
The 43-year-old actress first joined the BBC One soap in November 2005, before exiting the show in 2008 only to return as Honey in 2014.
Emma now has plans to become one of Walford's great matriarch's just like Dot, who was played on-and-off by June Brown for 35 years until her departure in 2020.
In an interview with Metro.co.uk, she said: "Honey could turn into a Dot over the years! There’s a lot of Dot in her, isn’t there?"
Emma admits she has been inspired by all the great female characters who have dominated Albert Square over the years, such as the late great Dame Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell, Lou Beale who was played by the late Anna Wing, Pam St Clement as Pat Butcher and Pauline Fowler who was portrayed by the late Wendy Richards.
And the former 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestant is very grateful for all the support she has been given by her female co-stars on the show.
She said: "When I first watched 'EastEnders' – Lou Beale, Ethel and Dot sitting in the Queen Vic with a dry cherry or a bitter lemon. They were the matriarchs and when I joined we had Barbara Windsor, Wendy Richards, Pam St Clements – they were inspiring to me. June Brown is incredible – their work across the industry and hearing their stories and journeys from the RSC to playing an 'EastEnders' stalwart.
"I hope I have learned enough from them so that I can share the life lessons they gave me to new women joining the show. They were so compassionate, caring and encouraging, their guidance was unbelievable – they were real mentors and they always used to help. It really makes me proud and now maybe I am one of these stalwarts as I have been there for years. I want to carry on that tradition of sticking together and looking after each other."
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