Barber: 'Enders part was meant to be'

EastEnders star Glynis Barber has admitted that her part in the soap felt like it was "meant to be".

The actress was cast in the role of Walford newcomer Glenda Mitchell in October after original choice Jill Gascoine pulled out following one day of filming.

Speaking about her appointment in an interview with DS, Barber revealed: "I didn't even know about the part originally! I knew nothing of it. I think they originally cast Jill because she's of a similar age to Barbara [Windsor] and on screen, they're sisters-in-law, so it made total sense.

"The fact that they then cast me was a sign of the complete desperation to get someone quickly! To be perfectly honest, though, I think it worked out really well."

Discussing her resemblance to screen daughter Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell), she continued: "Roxy's a daddy's girl and Ronnie's a mummy's girl, so Sam and I just had such a connection. We just look like mother and daughter.

"I've worked with Sam before, doing Babes In The Wood, and we had so many scenes together while I was filming. Sam and I are quite similar in some ways, so we really 'got' each other. It was such an organic process, it just felt like it was meant to be."

Barber will be seen on screen for the first time next week as Glenda arrives on Albert Square following the recent murder of her ex-husband Archie (Larry Lamb).

> Click here to read our full interview with Glynis Barber
> Click here to read more from Glynis Barber in Soap Scoop