Brain Conley has admitted that he was fearful of the prospect of soap acting prior to him joining EastEnders due to the genre's notoriously fast-paced nature.
The 61-year-old has an extensive career spanning comedy, acting and stage - and has been performing for more than four decades, albeit never in a soap, until he made his Walford debut as Rocky last year.
"I'd never done soap before I joined EastEnders, and it was an animal I was afraid of because of the turnaround," he told press this week. "The amount you've got to learn and shoot is phenomenal.
"It took me a year to understand how to do this and make it work for me. I remember Natalie Cassidy telling me it would get easier, and it has because it's a muscle you have to work.
"People like Danny Dyer would just glance at the script and be word-perfect for his dialogue and yours too! Me? I'd be looking at it all weekend to prepare!"
Conley also said that EastEnders had brought him new levels of recognition and fame, despite his illustrious history in the business.
"It is a different level. The other day, somebody recognised me from the back of my head!" he added. "I was in the petrol station queuing up, and I knew for a fact that this person hadn't seen my face. They were like 'Oi, Rocky!'
"The other day, me and my wife were going into a clothes shop in London and this Italian couple were looking at me, and my wife heard them speaking in Italian and then saying 'TV star'. She reckons they'd recognised me, which is mad.
"When people see me, they always want to talk about Kathy and Sonia, and I had a lot of questions about whether Dotty was [Rocky's] real daughter. It's something I've never experienced in my professional life!"
EastEnders continues weeknights on BBC One.
Neil Wilkes
Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 19, 2025
