Amanda Mealing revealed the real reason why she decided to take a break from playing Connie Beauchamp on Casualty, as she appeared on Lorraine Kelly’s chat show Friday.
The actress first stepped into Connie’s shoes back in 2004, when she made her first appearance on Casualty’s sister show Holby City on BBC One.
Connie then became the hospital’s emergency department’s clinical lead, where she’s been for the last seven years.
But with the unimaginable stress and tragedy the country’s doctors and nurses have witnessed over the course of the coronavirus pandemic being portrayed on screen, Amanda, 53, finally decided it was the time to step back.
Explaining her decision and what led to it, the star told Scottish presenter Lorraine, 61: "We were honouring and representing what the nation had seen and witnessed as well.
"And we wanted to tell their story because… we’d seen various articles and bits and pieces.
"But I suppose we did it because the greatest compliment was the number of medics complimenting and thanking us for representing it truly."
"[We were] telling parts of stories that they’ve probably not shared with their friends and family," Amanda continued.
"It felt like an incredible responsibility.
"I know for me and probably everyone else as well, it felt like a huge responsibility to honour [them] and to be able to do that."
The Death in Paradise star went on to say that the feedback the BBC show’s cast and crew received from medical professionals had given her a real feeling of satisfaction in her career journey.
"As I said, hearing back from the medics I think we got it right," Amanda went on.
"I think that was one of the reasons why I thought, I’ve achieved the best I can with Connie and the show at this point."
Connie has been a favourite on Holby City and Casualty ever since she was introduced nearly 20 years ago, having all manner of spats and head-to-heads with her colleagues, employees and superiors along the way, and will undoubtedly be missed by fans.
Casualty continues Saturdays on BBC One.
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