‘I wanted to get It right’
As Nancy adjusts to life without her fiancé in Hollyoaks, actress Jessica Fox reflects on her tough storyline
Beloved Hollyoaks character Nancy Hayton was left devastated when her fiancé Kyle, played by Adam Rickitt, took his own life last week.
The tragic storyline proved to be incredibly important and emotional for all involved, especially Jessica Fox, who plays the feisty mum.
“It was really tough,” she tells us when we speak on the phone. “But so, so important to speak up about mental health.”
For Jess, 37, work on the soap will now continue without Adam, who she counts as a close friend. “He’s always been so kind to me,” she says sadly – although she insists once the cast are able, they’ll give the actor the send-off he deserves.
Here she tells us about working with Adam, her own research into suicide and why Nancy will bounce back…
What will you miss most about working with Adam?
He is the most fun – he’s absolutely crackers, which I love, as I’m a bit like that too. He’s so well prepared and every bit the professional, but more than anything, he’s just fun.
Did you throw a farewell party?
Sadly, the coronavirus situation interrupted the big farewell, but as soon as we can, we will party hard and have a huge send-off for him.
Nancy’s had an awful time of it – how will she rebuild herself?
Something terrible happening to you doesn’t make you sad all the time, but you do carry that weight with you. So we’re keen to make sure that becomes part of her narrative. She won’t just be back to normal in a week. She will rebuild, because it’s Nancy. She’s had so many awful things happen to her and she’s always found a way through.
Do you feel a big responsibility to carry a storyline like this?
I do. When a storyline means a lot to you and to others, you want to get it right. The conversations around male mental health have been very loud and that’s an incredible thing. But it makes me think, “My God, I hope we did it ok.”
It must have been very difficult for you to do…
It was horrible, to be perfectly honest. I had an amazing crew around me who were so respectful, kind and supportive, and if I didn’t have that I wouldn’t have been able to get myself in the right headspace. I remember one day where I just couldn’t do it any more. I was out, totally exhausted and distraught.
But they were lovely about it.
Hollyoaks, 6.30pm, Channel 4.
For help dealing with mental health issues, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org