You Ask… Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi)
Eastenders’ Abi Branning ...faces your questions!
“Who do you think would win in a catfight?”
Star Lorna has played bad girl Abi for 11 years. It was recently announced that the 21-year-old is leaving Eastenders, but before she does, she faces your grilling…
“Who would you say is your favourite bad girl in soap?”
Janine Butcher is always one, isn’t she? I remember watching her and just thinking, ‘She’s so good!’. I liked all the little one-liners she’d say where you’d just think, ‘You can’t say that!’. She was so cutting!
“Which of your ex costars would you most like to see back?”
It would have to be Jo Joyner [Tanya]. We’re still in touch, and I watched her new series Ackley Bridge, and she was just brilliant in it. I think Abi could do with having that voice of reason – when her mum was there, she’d calm things down, but Abi doesn’t have that any more. She’s been left to her own devices to do some weird stuff !
“Would you like to see more of Abi working at the veterinary surgery?”
Definitely. I think the main thing is that Abi wants to be a vet, that’s all she ever wanted. So that would be cute.
“Are you a cat or a dog person?”
I’m 100 per cent a dog person. I’m a bit allergic to cats, plus they scare me because you don’t know what they’re going to do. If I’m coming home, I want my pet to run up to me – I don’t just want it to stare at me from the sofa like a cat would!
“Who do you think would win in a catfight between Abi and Lauren?”
Oh, I don’t know. Physically, it’s quite a hard one. I think Abi’s a bit more sneaky, rather than an actual fighter. I’m gonna say it’s 50/50 – depending on what mood they’re in!
“Do you have any sisters?”
I’ve got two older sisters. They do watch Eastenders, but they’re a bit blasé about it all. They never ask for gossip and they know I’m not going to say anything, but they do think it’s cool.
“What’s your favourite thing to do on a day off from work?”
I should probably say the gym, but it’s definitely more watching box-sets on Netflix! I’ve just watched Brooklyn
Nine-nine – I’ve finished four seasons! Because it’s on Netflix, it goes into the next one and you don’t have to move.
“What’s been your best night out with the Eastenders cast?”
I’d probably say any of the soap awards – they’re always a good laugh. We’re just such a big cast and there’s a real family feel to it, so it’s nice to see everyone.
“What’s been the best holiday you’ve ever been on?”
My sister was travelling, and I went to meet her in Australia for New Year’s Eve. We were in Sydney, watching from the bridge – and I would so recommend it, it was amazing. Then you get to do the really cheesy thing of ringing people back home in England and being like, “I’m from the future!” because you’re in one of the first countries to hit midnight.
“What would be your dream storyline for Abi before you go?”
I definitely like this darker side. I’d like to see how far they can take that! That’s what you want to play, because you can’t really get away with it in real life. In reality, you’d probably end up getting a slap for it!
“Have you ever been star-struck by anyone who has starred in Eastenders?”
I remember being a bit like that with Will Mellor [who played Warren Stamp in 2007], because I used to watch Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet of Crisps.
I knew that my mum loved it too, so I got a picture with him for her! I even got star-struck when Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer [aka Ricky and Bianca Butcher] came back to the show, because of course, I knew them from watching Eastenders.
“Who would you most like to cast as Abi’s next love interest?”
Eminem! He’s my favourite male artist, and I’ve seen 8 Mile and he’s not that bad at acting actually! If he would do it, that would be amazing. Abi and him have very different dynamics, but they may get on because they’d be like chalk and cheese!
“Which reality TV show would you most like to be in?”
Probably Strictly. I just love the show. I definitely couldn’t dance to their standard – I danced when I was a lot younger, but nothing on the ballroom scale. And the dresses are great!
“If you could play another Eastenders character for the day, who would it be and why?”
I think it would be Dot. Just because she’s a legend! And she’s really wise. She has seen a lot.
“Who would you like to play Abi’s next fella?”