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Nico Mirallegro Interview
Monday 4 August
We had plenty of questions to ask Nico following his schizophrenia storyline! Here's what he told us...
Monday 4 August
We had plenty of questions to ask Nico following his schizophrenia storyline! Here's what he told us...
What did you think when you first heard that Newt was going to suffer from Schizophrenia?
First of all I had a meeting with the producer and he told me that Newt was going to get an imaginary friend and that it was going to be a big storyline. I asked Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren) what he thought about it and he said he'd love to do something like that and that I'd done well to get a big storyline already.
First of all I had a meeting with the producer and he told me that Newt was going to get an imaginary friend and that it was going to be a big storyline. I asked Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren) what he thought about it and he said he'd love to do something like that and that I'd done well to get a big storyline already.
Did you think it sounded a bit crazy at first, when you heard you'd have an imaginary friend?
Well schizophrenia is a massive issue so I just thought it was such a big storyline to be given after I've already had a few big ones, with the siege and stuff with Lauren.
Well schizophrenia is a massive issue so I just thought it was such a big storyline to be given after I've already had a few big ones, with the siege and stuff with Lauren.
What research have you had to do for this storyline?
I read up a lot online and I read a few books about it too. I went out and bought a load of films to see how the best have done it like Robert DeNiro and Johnny Depp, they've both done films about schizophrenia. I bought about twenty five films and watched them all!
Rethink is the leading charity for mental health and we are going to visit them and do some stuff with them too.
I read up a lot online and I read a few books about it too. I went out and bought a load of films to see how the best have done it like Robert DeNiro and Johnny Depp, they've both done films about schizophrenia. I bought about twenty five films and watched them all!
Rethink is the leading charity for mental health and we are going to visit them and do some stuff with them too.
Was it strange filming as if you had an imaginary friend without giving the game away?
Well from the beginning I just played it as if Eli was a mate but some directors played it a bit different by giving little clues. Maybe some of the audience found out earlier than they should have but I think it's worked really well.
Well from the beginning I just played it as if Eli was a mate but some directors played it a bit different by giving little clues. Maybe some of the audience found out earlier than they should have but I think it's worked really well.
Eli seems to come and go, what triggers his arrivals?
Basically whenever Newt is upset or angry, or he's had an argument with Frankie or Darren, Eli seems to arrive. It seems to be just when he is distressed about something.
Newt and Eli often talk about Newt's past; do you think Eli has been a part of Newt's life for a long time?
Yeah, what happened was that Eli as Newt's friend when he was younger and Newt found him hanged which was obviously disturbing for him. Some of this has been written into some of the scenes we've done. I think Eli was a life long friend and Newt has just kept him with him in his head.
Yeah, what happened was that Eli as Newt's friend when he was younger and Newt found him hanged which was obviously disturbing for him. Some of this has been written into some of the scenes we've done. I think Eli was a life long friend and Newt has just kept him with him in his head.
Newt seems to sway between believing that Eli is his friend, to wanting him out of his life. Why do you think this is?
I think it's the writer's fault! No not really I'm just joking! It does seem quite inconsistent the way Newt seems to need Eli one minute then wants to get rid of him the next. I think it is all part of the split personality that Newt is experiencing.
I think it's the writer's fault! No not really I'm just joking! It does seem quite inconsistent the way Newt seems to need Eli one minute then wants to get rid of him the next. I think it is all part of the split personality that Newt is experiencing.
How is Jack’s 'death' going to affect Newt?
Jack’s 'death' is going to really affect Newt and things will certainly kick off when he discovers the truth about Jack still being alive.
Will Newt be able to stay with the Osborne's despite his illness and everything that is going on with them?
Newt will be going to hospital but he will stay with the Osbornes. I don't think in real life that he'd be allowed to stay with the Osbornes but this is soap world and I think it's a good idea that he does.
Newt will be going to hospital but he will stay with the Osbornes. I don't think in real life that he'd be allowed to stay with the Osbornes but this is soap world and I think it's a good idea that he does.
Eventually it's Lauren who tells Frankie and Darren about Eli. Is this going to affect Lauren and Newt's relationship?
Yeah it will. In the scenes we are filming at the moment Newt and Lauren haven't been getting on so well and when she visits him in hospital he just goes absolutely mental with her. I think he is going through a horrible stage where he feels like he can't trust anyone.
Yeah it will. In the scenes we are filming at the moment Newt and Lauren haven't been getting on so well and when she visits him in hospital he just goes absolutely mental with her. I think he is going through a horrible stage where he feels like he can't trust anyone.
The fans on the forum have been wondering for months about whether Eli is real or not, what kind of response have you had from the fans?
Well we do these charity football games and when I'm at those all the fans chant "Eli’s gonna' get ya!". It's been a positive response and everyone's been really shocked about the storyline. Everyone has said that me and Marc Silcock (Eli) have done a good job and that's what matters.
Well we do these charity football games and when I'm at those all the fans chant "Eli’s gonna' get ya!". It's been a positive response and everyone's been really shocked about the storyline. Everyone has said that me and Marc Silcock (Eli) have done a good job and that's what matters.
What will the future hold for Newt once his schizophrenia is discovered?
He starts to recover but something will happen which will crack the shell open again...
He starts to recover but something will happen which will crack the shell open again...
What would you like to see happen to Newt in the future?
The scenes that I'm filming at the moment, Newt and Darren have been starting a bit more of a brotherly relationship and I think it works really well. Ashley's (Darren) a great actor and I learn a lot from him and the rest of the Osborne family. I'd like to see the schizophrenia stuff continue for a bit but obviously there's only so far it can go, I'd like to see all the Osbornes happy again too.
The scenes that I'm filming at the moment, Newt and Darren have been starting a bit more of a brotherly relationship and I think it works really well. Ashley's (Darren) a great actor and I learn a lot from him and the rest of the Osborne family. I'd like to see the schizophrenia stuff continue for a bit but obviously there's only so far it can go, I'd like to see all the Osbornes happy again too.
You can find out more about Nico in his cast profile.
Rethink is the leading charity for mental health in the UK. You can find out more about Newt's illness on the Rethink website.
Rethink is the leading charity for mental health in the UK. You can find out more about Newt's illness on the Rethink website.
