Exclusive: Hollyoaks star Niamh Blackshaw on Juliet's tragic exit
Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks star Niamh Blackshaw has spoken out about her exit from the show.
Fans said a farewell to Niamh's character Juliet Nightingale in Wednesday's heartbreaking E4 episode (June 7), as she passed away peacefully at home.
Juliet's exit was confirmed on-screen last month, as doctors told her they had exhausted all treatment options. She had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma earlier this year.
Tonight's scenes saw Juliet's family acknowledge the end was near, after she collapsed following a touching moment with Peri in The Folly.
Back at home, Juliet shared some heartfelt goodbyes with her loved ones, before slipping away with Peri by her side.
Speaking to Digital Spy about how she felt about being killed off, Niamh said: "It's very complicated. I was open to options about my exit, and this felt like a finite, powerful story which made me excited.
"I love the character deeply and I'm upset for her – we all have grieved a fictional character at some point. But I'm happy to have seen her through to the end. It's been difficult, but I'm very proud of the work. I feel like it's the best work I have done on the show.
"I've always known [it would end like this]. The response [from fans] has been very overwhelming. I was very shocked at how loved Juliet is. I feel like everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, and I’m happy we've been able to share those stories with the Ode to my Juliet campaign too."
Reflecting on Juliet's tragic final scenes, Niamh added: "Those scenes were really hard. But our director, Ian Curtis, was the best. It was also something that made me feel challenged as an actor, and also gave me some closure to this part of my life.
"My final day on set was a Saturday, so no one was in the building. It was fun and felt very private – like being in school on the weekend. We had happier scenes that day so there were no tears!"
Niamh did say that she would "absolutely" have liked Juliet's popular relationship with Peri to have had a happy ending, but "it's Hollyoaks and I don't think that's ever happened to anyone!"
Juliet's fans will also know that her friendship with Sid Sumner was a huge part of her Hollyoaks journey.
Sid hasn't been seen on screen since last October, when Billy Price bowed out the role, but does Niamh wish their alter-egos could have had a final scene together?
"I think that would have been so nuanced and complex but beautiful too," she said. "I'd like to think they still had a final moment together, we just didn't get to see it."
She added: "My favourite Juliet story is probably her friendship with Sid and County Lines. I loved Juliet the most when she was the loudest, and most brazen – getting to do stunts and rugby tackling men way bigger than me.
"As an actor I enjoyed the exit storyline the most, I felt challenged and learned so much, and still got to keep Juliet fearless and tirelessly brave until the end."
Finally, what is next for Niamh now?
"I’m back out there," she said. "I am excited to find the next right thing while also studying part time at the University of Oxford."
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from MacMillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer.
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