EastEnders star Milly Zero opens up over challenges of Dotty role

Milly Zero has opened up about the challenges she has faced throughout her portrayal of Dotty Cotton in EastEnders.

Her character carries the legacy of one of the most iconic clans in Walford history — and speaking to Inside Soap about the obligation, Milly said being a Cotton is both a "real responsibility, but also an honour".

Although Milly is grateful for the role, the television actress confessed that she feels burdened to work hard, keeping the Cotton legacy in mind.

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"I've been here for two years, and I still think, 'Wow, I'm playing June Brown's granddaughter! Who would have thought that'd happen," she said.

Milly continued: "But I feel a responsibility to work hard, and make Dotty a great characters who carried on her family's legacy."

The soap star also spoke about her new storyline and why she was thrilled to learn that she would be joined by Dotty's mum, Sandy (Martha Cope) and her secret uncle Tom, otherwise known as Rocky (Brian Conley).

Initially, June's retirement made Milly the only Cotton on the Square and admittedly lonely. But the arrival of her family members will soon be a welcome one.

BBC

"For a while, I was alone and that was hard," she said. "Story-line wise, when a character doesn't have any family or friends, it's tough to place them in the Square.

"Now Dotty has family around her, she has her best friend Vinny – the writers are really building up my characters, and it's exciting to explore her with people that know her really well," she said.

Speaking about the dynamic with her uncle, she said she was "shocked" when she learned about the Rocky twist.

"I didn't expect it at all," Milly said. "But I was excited to work with Brian and to have a storyline that wasn't going to be over in just a few weeks."

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.