Rose Ayling-Ellis has found it "quite hard" to understand her 'EastEnders' co-stars at times during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rose Ayling-Ellis as Frankie
The Frankie Lewis actress, who is deaf, admitted it has been tough to communicate with her fellow stars in between scenes because she cannot lip read due to everyone wearing face masks and socially distancing, as per the COVID-19 guidelines.
She said: "The hardest challenge for me is the COVID pandemic.
"Everyone is wearing masks, everyone is social distanced.
"So, before people wouldn't wear their masks and they would come up close to me so I can see their face and lip read.
"But now everyone is wearing masks and staying well away, so I can't understand everyone. So it's quite hard."
However, Rose - whose character Frankie is the daughter of Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) - has an interpreter with her "at all times" and she admitted the cast and crew have been learning some sign language, which has "really helped a lot".
Speaking on a video on EastEnders' official Twitter account to mark Deaf Awareness Week, she added: "But luckily everyone here is very, very nice, and they adapt to what I need.
"I have an interpreter with me at all times, so they translate anything.
"But sometimes when she's not there, the cast take their masks off and keep their distance from me.
"And now they're picking up signing and learning some bits.
"They're becoming a bit more dextrous, more expression. And that's really, really helped a lot.
"Everyone is really nice and opened minded and trying their hardest.
"It helps a lot."