Tracy-Ann Oberman has revealed that her EastEnders character Chrissie Watts has become an even "harder" person during her time in prison.
Chrissie makes her return to the soap next week after an absence of almost two decades, having been jailed 19 years ago for the murder of her husband 'Dirty' Den Watts (Leslie Grantham).
At the end of Thursday's episode, Den's daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean) was seen being led into prison for contempt of court - unaware that Chrissie was holed up in a cell a few doors down.
Talking about Chrissie's big return, Oberman said: "I think she went to prison longer than most real murderers! And I've always said if she had a better lawyer, she would have got off for mitigating circumstances.
"I think it's made her tougher. I think it's made her very singular in her own survival and I think it's given her a long time to think about that relationship with Den, and what he drove her to.
"I don't think she's softened; if anything I think she's gotten harder because she's had to survive. She's obviously had a really tough time in prison and let's not forget that she put Sam Mitchell behind bars, and the Mitchells have got long arms that reach into all sorts of areas."
She continued: "I kept having to try and work out why Chrissie had been in prison over the last 19 years because as I say, it's longer than most murderers, so obviously stuff has gone on in prison that has kept her there!
"She's not the youngest of the prisoners, and she's not the physically toughest of the prisoners, but she's definitely got something about her. She's got charisma and charm, and the key thing for Chrissie is that she's got very powerful skills of persuasion so she has risen to the top."
EastEnders continues Monday at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
Neil Wilkes
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