Emmerdale's Zoe Henry explains Rhona's decision in Pierce story

Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale's Zoe Henry, who plays Rhona Goskirk, has opened up about her character's surprising decision to do Pierce Harris' bidding while he remains behind bars.

In scenes set to air next week, Rhona decides to make contact with Pierce's son Marcus, after Pierce tells Rhona that he's dying and would like her to pass on the news to his child.

Despite Vanessa Woodfield's attempts at derailing Rhona's decision, Rhona is committed to getting in touch with Marcus and speaking to him about his father – even after her traumatic past with Pierce.

Explaining Rhona's rationale, Zoe Henry has admitted that Rhona can't help her feelings. "She decides to help because she's a parent, she's a mother and she's a daughter.

ITV

"She understands about that family connection, and who is she to deny this child of Pierce's the chance to see him again?" she explained.

As for how Rhona and Marcus' meeting comes about, Zoe admits that her character is a little shocked by the pace of the situation.

"She's fairly useless, tech-wise, trying to locate him, and of course Ryan is a genius and within 24 hours he's found the number and so it goes from there," she said.

"She deliberates about whether to ring it once she has got it, I think she thinks it's going to be a much longer process, but Ryan miraculously appears with it the next day."

ITV

Opening up about Rhona's reaction to the situation Pierce has put her in, Zoe said that Rhona remains committed to keeping her distance from her abuser.

"She doesn't forgive [Pierce] but there's a part of her that wants to help the son," she added. "She doesn't know his name at this point, she doesn't really know anything about him. That's where she's at."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.