“Putting Max & Ruby together is a good idea!”

Ruby Allen had been away from Albert Square for more than a decade when she returned in September 2018. Her reunion with best friend Stacey was a magical moment – but her new life in Walford was blighted almost immediately, when she was sexually assaulted after a night out. The subsequent court case was accompanied by a ground-breaking episode in the Queen Vic, during which the topic of consent was discussed among the assembled locals. And while Ruby has been through the mill, Louisa Lytton, who plays her, is incredibly proud to be nominated for our Best Actress award…

Congratulations, Louisa! A nomination for Best Actress is quite a nice ‘welcome back’ to Eastenders, isn’t it?

Thank you, yes! I’ve been back a year now – so to be up for an award already is an achievement in itself. I was given an amazing storyline, so to have recognition from that, it’s what we all work for.

You originally joined Eastenders in 2005 – did you have any idea of the journey you’d end up going on?

It’s so mad. I was only 15. I remember my first day, doing a scene with Lacey [Turner, aka Stacey], Nat Cassidy [Sonya] and James Alexandrou, who was playing Martin then. They kept trying to make me laugh. After I left, I was away from the show for 12-13 years and I’m so grateful that I had all these other experiences. Now I feel as if I’ve come back home. I love it here.

Returning to the show with

Ruby’s consent storyline threw you right back in at the deep end…

Yeah, but it was great to be trusted with a storyline like that. It had a really great reaction, and I’ve had lots of people getting in touch.

Did you find it quite easy to switch off at the end of a day?

It was very intense, and it definitely stuck with me more than most other storylines might have. I was working closely with Rape Crisis and you can’t help but naturally take on other people’s stories and experiences. But hearing from people about how the story has helped them, it made me feel very proud.

Who has most inspired you as an actress?

When I was a teenager on the show, Natalie Cassidy was my mentor, and we’re good friends now.

And obviously

Lacey.

There are quite a few women at work – such as Kellie Bright [who plays Linda] and Diane Parish [aka Denise] – who I really look up to.

What do you make of Max and Ruby together? Could it work?

I mean, I don’t know! But I think it’s a good idea. When Ruby first came back, she was really confident, running her own business. She’s an independent woman. So it makes sense for a man of that status to be attracted to her.

But obviously the spanner in the works is his history with

Stacey…

We were kind of rooting for Ruby and Jay to be together!

I think it could have worked, although I don’t know how far they would have taken it. But me and Jamie [Borthwick, who plays Jay] get on really well. He’s like my annoying little brother! [Laughs]

Do you enjoy Ruby’s costumes? Her wardrobe is quite glamorous.

She’s very glam – all bright colours. I get a lot of messages about her outfits, asking where stuff is from. In real life I tend not to glam up, because I have to do it for work, and don’t have the energy!

Are you looking forward to the Inside Soap Awards party?

Yes – I’ve not been in about 15 years, I don’t think. The first Inside Soap

Awards I came to was my first awards do and my mum came with me!

Can you pick out any highlights of this past year?

Apart from the consent storyline, working with Jake [Wood, aka Max]. Max is a popular character and Jake is such an amazing actor. I’m really lucky. And being back with Lacey, as we never thought we’d do that again.

And you got engaged a few weeks ago – congratulations!

Thank you! I went back to Eastenders, got engaged – it’s crazy how your whole life can turn around in a year!

What would it mean for you to win this award?

It would be amazing! It would mean that we did the storyline the right way, and for the right reasons.