July 9th 2024.
Recently on Coronation Street, we were all left feeling unsettled after a dramatic episode featuring a showdown between Lauren Bolton and her violent predator, Joel Deering. Even actress Cait Fitton, who plays Lauren, admitted that filming the intense sexual grooming and violent scenes was tough for her. But it wasn't just the intensity of the scenes that made it difficult - Cait also felt a huge responsibility towards real-life victims of similar situations.
In an interview with The Agency, Cait shared, "It was very tough. Having a two-hander episode, there's an immense amount of pressure there. And on top of that, doing a storyline that's going to hit so many people, it's hard! You feel like you have this duty of care to the people who have experienced it in real life. You want the story to be good and for them to be able to look at it and say, 'wow, our story is out there.' These issues need to be raised and these girls need justice for what they've been through."
The intense and frightening scenes were not easy for Cait to film, but she was happy to hear positive feedback from fans, especially since the plot took a long time to resolve. She also expressed her love for the bond between Lauren and Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson. "Lauren looks at Roy as this maternal, parental figure in her life. She's never had a good relationship with her dad, so to have someone like Roy who has given her a second chance at life, she's so grateful towards him. She might not show it all the time, but deep down, she is very grateful. I love their little bond and it's something I would love to focus on more."
Cait also shared her devastation when she found out about Roy's involvement in Lauren's disappearance and how it affected her character. "You watch it and you tell yourself it's not real, but when you've watched it for so long, you can't help but have those feelings. I completely understand it!"
After a six-month secret return to the show, Cait has jumped right back into the deep end with co-star Calum Harrison, who plays Joel. Keeping her return a secret was tough, but Cait was happy to see the positive response from fans. "When I was in the show, I didn't really get a lot of publicity, but as soon as I left, people were asking if I was coming back! It's been amazing, a whirlwind of emotions - really overwhelming. I had to keep a low profile while filming, sneaking in and out in disguise. But I knew about my return for six months, which was quite fortunate in this industry where you don't always know what's going to happen next."
Cait's return also meant deceiving viewers by pretending she had left the show. "People's opinions of the storyline have been really positive. It was tough for me to keep quiet for six months because everyone was so invested in the storyline, which is great for us. I'm hoping it will be a shock to the audience when it all comes out on screen."
Moving forward, Cait is excited about the upcoming chapters for her character, but she also warns that there is still a long way to go. Joel is still trying to keep his vile actions a secret, which puts Lauren in danger. But Cait is passionate about representing this real-world issue and the good it can do. "I worked closely with the Maggie Oliver Foundation for this storyline, and the foundation is known for working with survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse. On their website, it says, 'turning pain into power,' and I love that. It's such an empowering quote. I think for Lauren, she has so much trauma, but I hope that in the long run, she can turn that pain into power."
Cait wants viewers to take away a powerful message from the storyline. "You might experience something really bad in your life, but it doesn't define you as a person. That's something I want people to take away from the storyline. There's support out there for people, and you're not alone. Just because you've been through something tough, it will pass, and you will come out stronger than ever. I want Lauren to be remembered as a strong, independent young woman, not just a broken and traumatized child. There are so many empowering women on the show, and I hope Lauren can be one of them."
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