Emmerdale star Casey Al-Shaqsy has confirmed that Serena Sugden's web of lies could lead to serious consequences, especially if her character 'goes nuts'. The actress, who plays the mysterious newcomer, teased that Serena's dishonesty is a ticking time bomb that may explode, affecting her family.
Serena's secretive past and current lies
Serena arrived in the village after helping Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) by a lake, listening to her troubles. She later revealed herself as a distant relative of Sarah and Robert Sugden (Katie Hill and Ryan Hawley). After moving into Emmerdale Farm, she clashed with Robert's partner Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), who suspected she was like John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). Aaron's suspicions seemed confirmed when he found photos of Serena with John on her phone, despite her claiming she hadn't seen him in years.
Serena explained she had fallen for John's charm, and Robert gave her another chance. However, alone, she was seen snooping through a stolen USB stick from Home Farm, indicating she is still hiding something.
Casey Al-Shaqsy on Serena's fears
Al-Shaqsy said Serena is not 'scared of anybody', but fears the fallout from her lies. 'She has quite an aggressive background in the police force; she talks about her famous fighting stories. As a person, I actually do kickboxing as well, so I relate to her in that way! But I don't think she's afraid of anyone. The only worry she has about being caught is that she's lied so much.'
The actress added, 'As I like to say, it's not really lying; it's just not telling the full truth. But her being caught at Home Farm – after lying about being in the police, not disclosing how much she knew John, finding the photos, and keeping Charity's secrets – feels like just another secret to add to the pile. It could get her into more trouble with her family, which is a problem for her. But she's doing it for what she believes are good reasons. Not everyone will see it that way, and people will have different opinions, but she thinks she's doing the right thing. She is only afraid of the problems she might cause for herself and her family if she's caught.'
The bond between Serena and Robert
Reflecting on Serena's relationship with Robert, Al-Shaqsy said, 'I think there may be eventual growth, but Serena and Robert are both happy to see each other. They both love each other very much. I think what a lot of people can relate to is having a family member whom you haven't seen in 15 years, but they're still your blood. You remember being a kid with them, playing with them, or seeing them at certain times. You might think your cousin is an absolute nightmare and hate them, but you still love them, you know? I think that's what it is.'
She teased, 'I think, regardless of what happens, Robert loves Serena. Obviously, if she did anything truly nuts, I'm sure there'd be consequences, but with what's going on right now, you're seeing a very familial bond that a lot of people can relate to. It's a family member you don't see very often, but the love is always there. I think that translates on screen, which is why people keep saying it's like she never left. It doesn't matter how long it's been; when you see them again, it's like they never left because they are your family.'
What lies ahead for Serena
Al-Shaqsy didn't reveal too much about future plots but confirmed Serena will 'morally' put 'herself in bad situations for other people'. This suggests her character may continue to tread a dangerous path, with potential explosive repercussions for her and her family.
