Danielle Harold has revealed that the whole cast and crew were in floods of tears as she filmed her final scene as Lola on EastEnders.
The character will bow out of Walford at the end of the month in the culmination of a tragic storyline which has seen her battle a terminal brain tumour.
As she receives palliative care at home, her loved ones gather around her bedside to say their final goodbyes.
"It's got a real sense of community about it. Everyone comes together," Harold told The Sun.
"There will be a few surprise goodbyes, relationships she's had over the years that the viewers might have forgotten about.
"We've also got a really special moment where Lola finds the strength inside her to give her 'Pops' Billy one last message.
"It was something that felt right when we were rehearsing so I asked the medical advisor if Lola would be able to find that final bit of strength to say those last words, and it did happen.
"It's a really special moment. Everyone was crying. When all the crew are crying you know you're doing it right. We've had them all crying."
Harold, who has played the part since 2011, added: "This has been the biggest storyline of my life and, as an actress, it's been such a huge privilege to have been trusted with something so important.
"But there's also been so much pressure to get it right. We've worked really hard and I just hope we've done it justice.
"Of course it's bittersweet as I knew my time at EastEnders would come to an end but I'm so proud of everything we've done telling Lola's story."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
Neil Wilkes
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