'We'd have to take a break from filming to compose ourselves'

EastEnders star Emma Barton on becoming emotional on set, learning from the late, great soap icons, tackling the London Marathon as Honey and in real life, and finding love after heartbreak

- TONY COWELL

The first burst on to our TV screens in 2005 as the doe-eyed Honey Edwards (later Mitchell) in EastEnders – and Emma Barton has been a firm favourite on the BBC soap ever since.

Looking back at her screen test for the role, the 46-year-old – who previously appeared on the small screen in Doctors and Spooks, and on stage in shows including Grease – vividly recalls being “terrified” as she filmed in the iconic Queen Vic pub alongside Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy Mitchell, and Shane Richie, who portrays Alfie Moon. And no wonder – two Walford icons in one room would be enough to intimidate any new cast member.

“Just standing in that famous pub made my legs tremble,” Emma tells us. “But both Perry and Shane were lovely. I will never forget starting my television career and joining EastEnders alongside the likes of Barbara Windsor, Wendy Richard and Pam St Clement. They were all so iconic, and I was in awe of them.

Reminiscing about the huge stars she ended up not only sharing screen-time with, but becoming good friends with, there is one who made a huge mark on the actress – June Brown, aka Dot Cotton.

“When June died in 2022, I was heartbroken,” she says. “I learned so much from watching her work. I’ve been in EastEnders for nearly 20 years now, and I feel so fortunate I got to work alongside these wonderful, gifted actors.”

Emma’s life and career were also hugely impacted by Dame Barbara Windsor, who starred as Peggy Mitchell. Barbara tragically died in 2020 following a battle with Alzheimer’s, but did so much to raise awareness of the cruel disease, alongside her husband, Scott Mitchell.