Coronation Street star Cait Fitton on upsetting return storyline for Lauren
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Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street revisits Max Turner's past next week as his ex-girlfriend Lauren Bolton returns to Weatherfield.
Lauren approaches Max for help after facing a tough time since Griff Reynolds' far-right extremist group was brought to justice.
The teen tells Max that she has fallen out with her mum and wants nothing to do with her dad Reece and his dangerous mates.
Max feels sorry for Lauren when she reveals that she spent last night sleeping in the bus station, but how will she feel about him moving on in a new relationship with Bec?
Cait Fitton, who plays Lauren, recently caught up with Digital Spy and other media to discuss her return storyline.
How does it feel to be back on the show?
"Honestly, it feels like I've never left. It's a lovely feeling and Corrie is such an amazing place to work. I learned so much the first time and I got to work with some amazing people. I also got to be part of such a big storyline.
"To get told that I was coming back, it was unexpected. Lauren was supposed to be this temporary character that was just a part of the storyline. I'm excited that I can now develop the character more and we can see her in a different light."
Why do you think the audience has become interested in Lauren?
"Lauren is very naive. She's someone who is easily misled, but there's definitely more to her than meets the eye. The audience were very wary of her at the start, because of the red flags that were showing. But when Lauren left, there was a big shift and I was really overwhelmed with the amount of support I received.
"I think Lauren is very much an outcast. She shares this edited version of herself and her life. That's what young people can relate to. On social media, for example, you have to put this front on and everything is like a fairytale until the cracks start to show.
"Lauren has to be this strong person. She has this guard up, and she feels that if she lets it down, she'll have to start letting people in. That's what she really struggles with.
"Deep down, Lauren really wants some affection and it's really sad, because she's never had that. She doesn't really understand compassion and empathy because of how she's been brought up. I think that's why people do feel quite sorry for her and can relate to her in some way."
Has Lauren turned her back on her extremist views?
"Lauren has definitely changed. She has been through so many things within the last six months. As human beings, we go through these experiences and they can change us as people.
"Lauren just wants to be accepted now. She wants to be taken away from what her dad was known for and she just wants to be herself, but she can't do that on her own.
"Acceptance for Lauren is such a big thing. She wants to build bridges with people and she's willing to show everybody that she has changed."
How involved was Lauren in the group?
"I've questioned a lot of things. Did Lauren really have these views that her dad had, or was she manipulated and brainwashed? She's been conditioned all her life and she knows nothing different.
"From that, Lauren inherited her dad's beliefs and opinions. She's never been able to make her own choices. I think parents play such a big role within a child's life, so if you're constantly surrounded by hate, do you know any different? When people say that's not right, Lauren is confused because that's all she's known.”
Why does Lauren come looking for Max?
"Lauren is just desperate and her relationship with her mum is so toxic. She hasn't got that mother and daughter bond where she can speak to her mum about anything. She also hasn't got any friends and her dad is in prison, so she's got no stability there.
"Max has always been Lauren's safety blanket. She goes back because she needs Max's help, but obviously a lot of things have changed, so it puts a bit of a spanner in the works."
How does Lauren react to the revelation that Max has a new girlfriend, Bec?
"When Lauren sees Max with this new girl, she's instantly hurt, shocked and feels betrayed. Because Lauren puts this front on and represses her feelings constantly, the more she leaves it, the more she is just going to explode.
"Lauren wants Max to be happy. She knows what Max has been through and she does blame herself, because part of the reason why Max got himself into that mess was because Lauren was used as bait to lure him into the group.
"So Lauren wants Max to be happy, but she does struggle to accept the reality of the situation. She might not be the reason for Max's happiness, and that's the hardest thing for Lauren to understand and accept."
Will Lauren take those hurt feelings out on Bec?
"The feelings Lauren has aren't through hatred or spite, but it's just through heartbreak. Lauren is utterly heartbroken because Max was her last resort. She's come back and her whole world has just fallen apart.
"When things get too much, we automatically explode and take it out on different people. But I don't think it comes from hatred towards Bec. I just think Lauren is really struggling to get her head around the fact that she's been gone these past six months – she's been lonely but Max has been moving on."
Does Lauren want more than friendship from Max?
"Lauren does attempt to kiss Max. I think there's unfinished business between them. There'll always be love and feelings there. They've shared the same trauma and they experienced it together.
"Lauren and Max are both very similar characters. They have this urge to latch onto things so quickly because they want that security. Because they both have that trait, it's magnetic – they can't be away from each other.
"They've got a solid friendship and feelings for each other, but it's quite hard at the minute. Because Lauren is struggling to accept that Max has moved on, she's not giving up when it comes to him. But whether that's the right thing to do, we'll just have to wait and see."
Can we expect to see a more vulnerable side of Lauren or a troublesome one?
"We're going to see a bit of both. Lauren is a feisty character, which is why I love playing her so much. That isn't going to change anytime soon, but we are going to see her in a completely different way.
"Lauren is the saddest we've ever seen her and her identity has been stripped. She has been told all these things about what she is and how she should be. Now that it's been taken away, she doesn't know who she is anymore.
"We'll also find out a lot of things about her background and what Lauren has been up to during her six months off screen. We'll find out more about why Lauren is the way she is, so I'm definitely excited to see that side of her."
Could Lauren's father Reece still hold any sway over her?
"I really hope not! Lauren doesn't want to be remembered for what her dad did. She doesn't even like calling him 'her dad', even though that's what he is.
"Lauren needs to move on with her life, cut off from her dad and move on. Her dad is her last bit of family, so cutting him off is terrifying for her because then she's got to accept that she's got nobody."
Would you like to see Lauren settle down on the Street?
"I'd love to see her settle down on the street. Lauren is such a complex character and that's why I love playing her. There are so many layers to how she reacts. She's such a genuine girl but she's so scared. Lauren settling down onto the Street, making friendships and potentially finding love again would do her the world of good."
Which castmates have you become friends with?
"Me and Paddy [Bever, who plays Max] spend so much time together – he's great. Julia Goulding [who plays Shona] is amazing, she took me under her wing. There's also Elle Mulvaney [who plays Amy], Tanisha Gorey [who plays Asha]. Todd Boyce [who plays Stephen] is lovely too.
"Everyone has been so nice and even on my first day back, everyone immediately came up to me and made me feel part of the family again. It's absolutely amazing, everyone has been so kind."
Who would you like to have more scenes with?
"I had a scene with Helen Worth. It was only a little one but I absolutely loved it. I remember that I was so nervous because Gail is such an iconic character. I remember coming out of that scene and wanting to do more with her.
"David Neilson is amazing and so funny – I had some scenes with him last time and I love Roy Cropper. I've been able to work with so many amazing people and I hope this time I get to stretch out and work with different people and there can be a shift in the dynamics."
How long have you been acting for?
"I started acting when I was six years old. It was a hobby at the start and I got put onto an agency. I did different bits here and there. Then when I was 18 I got transferred onto InterTalent management and my agent is [former EastEnders star] Brooke Kinsella.
"I've been auditioning for Corrie for years and I never really got anywhere. I was always told 'your time will come'. When I got this tape through for Lauren, I had that feeling – there was something about it and I needed to get it. It just shows if you fight hard and you work for your dreams, you can achieve."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you're concerned about someone who's expressing extremist or hateful views then ACT Early has further information. If you've seen or heard something that could potentially be related to terrorism, then report via www.gov.uk/ACT or call 0800 789 321.
If you've been affected by racism and racist hate crime, then organisations including theEquality and Advisory Support Service (EASS), the Monitoring Group, Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) and Stop Hate UK are among those which can offer help and support.
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