EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa: “Lauren knows that Cindy will take her down”

As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for British soap operas, I must say EastEnders has never failed to surprise me with its gripping storylines and powerhouse performances. The latest development involving Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) is no exception.

For Lauren Branning, a beloved character from EastEnders who’s dealing with persistent pain and a worsening drug addiction due to painkillers, the arrival of Cindy Beale at this critical juncture in her life was certainly not a welcomed development, especially given she’s pregnant.

In an attempt to suppress any information about Kojo Asare’s injuries that might implicate Lauren, I found myself inadvertently providing my son’s fragile partner with medications.

Despite Lauren’s efforts to maintain her strength, she and her child are facing a significant danger in the forthcoming sequences. Unfortunately, she feels too embarrassed to share this burden with her partner, Peter Beale (Thomas Law).

Even though Lauren appears self-assured, it’s clear that she recognizes Cindy isn’t someone to pick a fight with. With both women squaring off significantly, who will emerge victorious remains to be seen.

Read on below as Jossa teases what to expect from another dramatic week for the Beales.

Lauren is in a very dark place right now. How hard are things for her?

Lauren carries a heavy secret that’s weighing her down, and she’s deeply ashamed of her addiction to painkillers. Her struggle with sobriety feels like a defeat to her, even though it involves painkillers instead of alcohol. Additionally, the fact that she hasn’t shared this with Peter is tearing her apart. Currently, Lauren is merely trying to keep everything hidden.

How is she coping with Cindy blackmailing her?

It’s truly unfortunate that Lauren finds herself in this ‘I’ll guard your secret if you’ll do the same’ predicament, particularly with someone like Cindy. After all, Cindy is the epitome of a nightmare mother-in-law, and it seems there couldn’t be a more unfavorable individual for Lauren to face potential blackmail from.

Lauren regrets stumbling upon what she saw with Kojo that night as it’s landed her in a difficult situation. To make matters worse, they haven’t told anyone about her pregnancy yet. So, there are secrets piling up, and Lauren is struggling to keep things under control while feeling unwell.

How does Lauren feel about Cindy right now?

From the beginning, Lauren wasn’t impressed with Cindy and quickly obtained her contact information. Just a reminder that she’s always heard unfavorable stories about Cindy, so when Cindy attempted to act friendly right off the bat, it made Lauren feel uneasy.

She finds Cindy unauthentic and can’t disguise that feeling. And let me tell you, if Lauren dislikes someone, it’s obvious. Despite being family and the mother of her boyfriend, she can’t conceal her feelings towards Cindy.

Does this make it hard for her with Peter and Ian being so close to Cindy?

I find myself on the sidelines, observing the situation with a heavy heart, as Cindy Beale seems to have the family in her grasp. Ian appears to be smitten by her, and it’s as if she can do no wrong in his eyes. Even Peter, my dear friend, seems oblivious to the situation. What troubles me more deeply than anything else is the impact Cindy has had on Peter and Lucy, leaving them as children. To me, Cindy comes across as self-centered, acting only for her own benefit without considering the pain she’s caused.

Lauren is trying to go cold turkey to break her addiction. How hard is that for her?

It’s unfortunate that Lauren finds herself in this situation again, as she has personal experience with addiction. Unfortunately, despite recognizing her slide into a fresh addiction, she feels powerless to stop. This is because she lacks sufficient understanding about it and the potential risks. For her, quitting could potentially pose additional dangers, especially for the baby, though she may not fully comprehend this yet.

What happens when she collapses?

It’s a pity that Lauren finds it difficult to play due to her efforts to act honorably, yet she’s unable because of her discomfort and falls in distress. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to explain to Peter why she’s fallen, making the situation even more sorrowful.

It seems that Lauren and Peter are extremely supportive of each other. If she were to confide in him about her problems, I believe he would be there to assist her. It’s challenging to observe this situation because it makes you think, ‘Why not tell him? He can help!’ However, she finds it difficult due to feelings of shame towards herself.

Does she try to tell Peter at any point?

Following the reassuring news that the baby is healthy, Lauren attempts to share her struggle with addiction with Peter, yet he refuses to listen. He’s concerned she may be overly critical of herself, but what she’s really trying to convey is, ‘No, no, I’m causing harm to our child.’ However, he gently brushes off her concerns in a supportive manner.

Additionally, Peter suggests that she should discover her own path for dealing with this situation. To her, severely affected by the pain, it seems like the only option to move forward is by taking more medication.

How do the rest of the Beales discover that Lauren is pregnant?

Following the scan, Peter feels joyful and desires a small souvenir picture from the scan since it’s Christmastime, and he plans to hang it on the tree. Later, when the family comes over for dinner with fish and chips, Louie spots it on the tree and inquires about its origin.

Cindy is absolutely fuming. Is Lauren scared?

It seems as though Lauren’s two realms are merging – the secret is no longer a secret! Lauren is concerned that Cindy might reveal the truth at any moment, which could potentially expose her secret. This worry has only increased the stress on Lauren even further. Cindy informs Lauren that she will be removing the drugs from her possession because Cindy is pregnant, and this is a challenge Lauren feels unable to handle at the present time.

In a straightforward manner, how does Lauren handle the situation when Cindy demands that Lauren should inform Peter, or else Cindy will do it herself?

The threat is quite terrifying for her. Lauren feels compelled to inform Peter, yet she understands that addressing him requires first conquering her addiction. Now, it seems like Cindy holds all the power.

Cindy and Lauren are constantly going back and forth, and Lauren has a major issue with Cindy concerning Kojo. Since a child is involved, Lauren understands that this situation is like a time bomb and some resolution must be found.

Is Lauren scared of Cindy?

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but admire the captivating performance of Lauren in this movie. However, there’s a chilling side to Cindy that sends shivers down Lauren’s spine. Deep within Cindy lies an unwavering determination to safeguard her family, which on the surface appears altruistic, but I suspect it’s more about self-preservation. Cindy will go to great lengths to conceal her secrets, and she’s made it clear that she won’t hesitate to undermine Lauren if necessary.

2024-12-05 04:11

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