September 16th 2024.
The recent changes to Sienna's backstory have sparked controversy among fans of Hollyoaks. Actress Anna Passey, who plays Sienna, has now addressed the decision to "retcon" her character's tumultuous past.
Initially, Sienna was introduced as the daughter of the disturbed Patrick, whose controlling and manipulative nature played a major role in shaping her into the iconic character she is today. However, the show's producers decided to shake things up earlier this year by introducing a new member of the Blake family - an estranged uncle named Jeremy, who turned out to be Patrick's twin brother.
Played by former series star Jeremy Sheffield, Jeremy was initially portrayed as a fun and loving uncle but was eventually revealed to be even more twisted than Patrick. This twist did not sit well with fans, but it was the ultimate retcon that caused the most uproar - Sienna's parentage. The new storyline revealed that Jeremy was actually her biological father, not Patrick.
Understandably, this major change received criticism from devoted fans of the show. As the actress who knows Sienna best, Anna couldn't help but share in the audience's reaction. "I was with the audience on it," she admitted in an exclusive interview with The Agency. "When I read about Jeremy's introduction, I thought, 'Great, this is brilliant. We get another chapter. We get to see this warm, open gardener. What's he going to bring out of Sienna?'"
Anna also acknowledged the significance of delving back into Sienna's history and how fans have an impressive memory for all the intricate details of her past. "They know that family tree as well as I do, and I did it - and I love that," she added.
However, the actress also couldn't help but feel a sense of loss with the retcon. "I also felt a bit... cheated is the wrong word, but like something was taken away. I felt a bit robbed of something," she shared. "But I was very confused by the changes, because I thought, 'Why am I having such a strong reaction to it?'"
After reflecting on it, Anna came to the realization that the history of Sienna and Patrick was still intact - after all, he was her father and had a huge impact on shaping her into the person she is today. "Of course, if she had Jez, she would have been a very different person, but I don't think we would have wanted that - I think we would want the one we got!" she said. "In a way, you're weirdly grateful that Patrick raised her, though that's an awful thing to say because she would have had a much nicer time with a nice dancing in the kitchen man."
The changes also meant that Dilly Harcourt, who was introduced as Sienna's sister, was no longer her sibling. This was another element of the retcon that left fans upset, as the newfound sisterly connection was a beloved addition to the show.
Discussing this aspect of the retcon, Anna shared her thoughts. "I think for Sienna, Dilly is her little sister no matter what. You can call it what you want, but the relationship is the same," she said. "And with Liberty, that relationship is such a beautiful thing. It really changed Sienna. Liberty is such an essential other half of Sienna, really."
But it's not just Liberty who has had a positive impact on Sienna. Anna also praised the addition of Emma Johnsey-Smith, who plays Dilly, and how she has brought a pure and innocent dynamic to the Blake family. "She's brought something really lovely to the Blake family. They're cousins, officially, but always a little sister."
In the midst of all these changes, there was one twist that brought some joy to fans - the reunion of Sienna and her true love, Ethan Williams. After almost a year of fans begging for the couple to get back together, the show's historic time jump finally made it happen.
Anna, who has long been a supporter of the Ethenna pairing, was thrilled to see happiness on the horizon for the couple. "They were just beginning when they ruined it [with the Rafe story]," she said. "Looking back, I wish we had more of them before that happened - but we didn't! So it is nice to be getting close to it now."
As she reflected on Sienna's past relationships, Anna came to the conclusion that Ethan is truly her soulmate. "In a way, all of the things that have happened with Sienna's past flames have led her to Ethan," she said.
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays to Wednesdays from 7am on Channel 4's streaming platform, with episodes also available on TV at 7pm on E4. If you have a soap or TV story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with The Agency - they would love to hear from you. And don't forget to join the community by leaving a comment below and staying updated on all things soaps on their homepage.
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