Entertainment
Happy Valley’s Mollie Winnard burst into tears after Mel B’s reaction to domestic abuse storyline-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
‘I did cry a little, I’m not gonna lie,’ Mollie said.
Mel B said Joanna Hepworth’s storyline in Happy Valley resonated with her (Picture: BBC/Lookout Point)
Happy Valley’s Mollie Winnard was overwhelmed by Mel B’s reaction to her performance as a victim of domestic abuse in the BBC blockbuster drama.
The Coronation Street star, 25, portrays Joanna Hepworth in the Sally Wainwright series, which also stars James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce and Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood.
Joanna is married to the vile and toxic Rob Hepworth (Mark Stanley) who regularly beats up his wife and controls every aspect of her life – even locking the fridge to prevent her from eating outside of his designated hours.
Mel B, who has been open about her experience of domestic violence and campaigned for women’s rights since ending her marriage with producer Stephen Belafonte, who denies the allegations, said the plot resonated with her.
Praising Mollie’s portrayal of Joanna, the 47-year-old wrote that the ‘glassy-eyed and battered’ character ‘wasn’t a woman I knew, this was a woman I was’ in The Independent.
Ahead of the gripping series final, Mollie spoke to Metro.co.uk about how honoured she was to have given a ‘truthful’ performance, saying she cried when she first learned of the pop icon’s reaction.
Catherin Cawood tried to get Joanna Hepworth to go to a shelter (Picture: BBC/Lookout Point)
Sadly Joanna Hepworth is brutally murdered by evil pharmacist Faisal Bhatti (Picture: BBC/Lookout Point)
She said: ‘I did cry a little, I’m not gonna lie.
‘When I was younger, I actually used to have the Spice Girls’ videotape and I’ve been a massive fan of the Spice Girls all my life.
‘To hear that kind of praise, from somebody who I’ve always kind of thought was amazing, just made everything worth it.
Mel B said she was moved by the Happy Valley storyline (Picture: SplashNews.com)
Mollie Winnard said Mel B’s praise made ‘everything worth it’ (Picture: Getty Images)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘Especially because she’s already been through what Joanna has been through; the fact that I’ve therefore given a truthful portrayal, that’s all the praise I want to hear really.’
She added: ‘Mel B is such an inspirational woman for overcoming that.’
Who to call if you need help
For emotional support you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in an LGBT relationship you can also call the helpline run by Broken Rainbow and Galop UK, on 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428.
Male victims can call also the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327.
Mollie, whose character Joanna is murdered by evil pharmacist Faisal Bhatti (Amit Shah), also said she has no idea how Happy Valley ends – and is looking forward to tuning into the final like the rest of the nation on Saturday.
More: Trending
Of course, all the cast have been keeping very quiet about the drama’s conclusion, although Neil Ackryod actor Con O’Neill teased it was ‘extraordinary’ while James, 37, described it as ‘magical’.
Happy Valley concludes on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Happy Valley’s Mollie Winnard clears up fan theory about why Poppy Hepworth always wears coat
Entertainment – MetroRead More
