Sophie Powles (Emmerdale's Holly) interview

Emmerdale's Holly (Sophie Powles) sinks even lower next week when she burgles Butler's.

> Find out the latest Emmerdale spoilers.

> Read our previous interview with Sophie Powles.


Where has Holly been staying?

"Holly’s just been crashing on people’s sofas. She meets a guy called Dan, who is a drug dealer so she stays with him for a while. He’s everything she wants at the moment because he’s not necessarily the nicest person or a very good boyfriend but he can supply her with drugs 24/7 and that’s all she cares about."

How is she coping without her family?

"Holly thinks she’s absolutely fine, she doesn’t think she needs them but it’s obvious she does. If she was at home with her parents telling her not to do drugs and keeping an eye on her then she wouldn’t be in the state she is in."

Is she still using drugs?

"Yes, really heavily. Not being at home means she can take drugs whenever she likes and has more access to them by living with Dan."

Can you tell me what happens when Scarlett and Eve see Holly in town?

"Holly’s just walking through town and she spots Scarlett and Eve who see her before it’s too late. She’s embarrassed that they have seen her in this state but then she tries to get money off Scarlett who lies that she doesn’t have any so Holly storms off."

How does Holly react when Scarlett sets her up and John meets up with her instead?

"Holly is furious, she can’t believe she’s fallen for the trick. She really thinks she’s going to get some money of Scarlett so she can score some drugs but she’s shocked when she meets her and John and Adam turn up."

She’s turned quite nasty hasn’t she?

"Yes, she’s turned into a nasty creature. Holly’s always been a fiery character but now when she’s intimidated it turns to aggression and it’s that which worries her family the most I think."

How does John try and persuade her to go home?

"John is quite understanding and tries to reason with her at first but when he sees that he’s not getting anywhere he tries to manhandle her into the car. It’s drives Holly to the edge."

Why does Adam intervene?

"Adam sees that John isn’t helping the situation and has to intervene and make John realise he can’t force Holly to come home if she doesn’t want to."

Do you think Moira and John are dealing with things in the right way?

"I think Moira and John are really trying to be understanding but then what is the right way when they haven’t experienced it before? They feel a bit out of their depth. Holly just keeps pushing them away so they just don’t know what to do to make it right."

Why does Holly burgle the Barton’s?

"Holly has lost all her morals and sense of consequence. She wants the drugs more than anything and doesn’t care what happens in the process. Holly doesn’t have a job so she thinks why not use her parent’s house to accumulate some money."

What does she take?

"Laptops, jewellery and other valuable possessions. Her friends help her and they all go round and help themselves to the Barton’s things. Holly takes it to a pawn shop and she’s got some money then to get her fix."

How do the Barton’s react when they realise their own daughter has robbed them?

"They are in a state of disbelief I think, it’s bad enough when a stranger burgles your house but when your own flesh and blood does it it’s heartbreaking. It’s the sentimental things that Moira and John can’t believe she’s taken, the things that money can’t buy."

Will the Barton’s get to a point where they will turn their backs on Holly?

"I don’t think Moira would ever turn her back on Holly, they have an unbreakable bond and Moira is a very strong woman and it would take a lot for her to push Holly away. Whereas John has already said that Holly is no daughter of his. It’s not because he’s weak but because it upsets him too much to see his daughter, who was once a Daddy’s girl, turn into this horrible, selfish person."

We were shocked when John dunks Holly’s head in the skink in Week 33 – how do you find scenes like that to film?

"It sounds awful but they are actually my favourite scenes to film. Any scene I have done in Emmerdale I have loved but when you get something like that to do it’s brilliant. Something to get your teeth into and I actually quite enjoyed getting my head dunked in the sink!"

Are there more shocking scenes coming up?

"It does get quite heated, you will have to watch to find out."

Will Holly repair her friendship with Roz?

"I’m not sure, I think their friendship was real and they had fun but then the drugs overran that and I don’t know if they can come back from that now."

Is she set to spiral further out of control? Would she do anything to get her next fix?

"I think Holly is on a downward spiral and things have to get worse before they get better."

Is there any going back for Holly now? Can anyone get through to her?

"The old Holly has gone for now, but hopefully not forever."

Have you had any letters from Emmerdale watchers whose lives have been affected by drugs?

"I have had a few letters but it’s mainly people coming up to me in public. It’s really touching when people come up to me in the street praising the storyline. The other day a lady thanked me for the work I was doing and that if it wasn’t for Emmerdale and Holly’s storyline she wouldn’t have noticed the changes in her own daughter and discovered she was taking drugs."