Lorraine Stanley burst into tears watching EastEnders' knife crime storyline.
Lorraine Stanley
The 41-year-old star - who plays Karen Taylor in the BBC One soap - got emotional as she saw her on-screen son Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) crying out for his mother in one of this week's episodes, which saw him and Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) stabbed by a gang.
Speaking about the plot, she said: "It's about getting it real and I think 'EastEnders' have done that well, and it's hard to watch because it's so real.
"When Keegan said 'mum', he was calling out for mum, I was watching it and crying.
"It was hard to watch and hard to film.
"When you bond with these people and watch them die, watch them suffer, it was difficult.
"But we're actors. Real people have to go through this."
While the knife crime scenes have been tough to shoot for Lorraine, she recently filmed some lighter moments with Hannah Spearritt, who is to reprise her role as Karen's sister Kandice Taylor in the soap later this year.
Lorraine said: "She comes back and they are very funny scenes we've just filmed. With all this darkness that goes on you need some light-hearted comedy and we've done some funny scenes together."
The 'Legend' actress is grateful for landing the "perfect job" by starring in 'EastEnders', and still has to pinch herself when she shoots scenes in the Queen Vic pub.
Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', she added: "She's very colourful. She hasn't got a lot. They've got no money but what they've got is heart and love. She'd do anything for her kids.
"She doesn't care what she looks like, she wears tight-fitted clothes. I cover my fat, she doesn't.
"It's great for me in make-up, it takes about a minute. Easy life.
"I've had a great time. Some great storylines. I'm loving it - the perfect job.
"Dare I say it's the perfect part for me.
"I still do filming and go, 'Oh my god, that's the Queen Vic.' There are surreal moments. I still pinch myself."
Tagged in Shaheen Jafargholi