Mica Paris has revealed her EastEnders character Ellie Nixon is based on a real person.
The singer, 51, told MailOnline that even she was scared of the villainous battleaxe when she joined the soap for a brief stint earlier this year, but the ‘phone hasn’t rung,’ asking for her return just yet.
It comes as Mica is set to mark the release of her new album Gospel with a socially-distanced performance at the Quaglino’s restaurant in London on Thursday 17th December.
EXCLUSIVE: Mica Paris has revealed she based her EastEnders character Ellie Nixon on a real person, but has kept their identity a closely-guarded secret
In July, Mica joined the EastEnders cast as the adoptive grandmother of Denise Fox’s son Raymond, and quickly clashed with Phil Mitchell who tried to regain custody of his son following the death of his adoptive parents.
While Ellie demanded £250,000 to hand over Raymond, Phil sent her packing as he planted drugs in one of her properties.
Asked whether fans could see Ellie back in Albert Square in 2021, Mica told MailOnline: ‘Let me just tell you I had such an amazing time, it was two months of total fun, Steve’s [McFadden] great, a lovely guy, Diane [Parrish] is amazing just, great people.
‘It’s very family there, so if the phone rings I’ll let you know but it ain’t rung yet.’
Sinister: The singer told MailOnline that even she was scared of the villainous battleaxe when she joined the soap for a brief stint earlier this year (pictured as Ellie)
Reflecting on her ‘evil’ character Ellie, Mica added that this was the first time she’d played such a nasty role, and she even took inspiration from an acquaintance, whose identity would be a closely-guarded secret.
She added: ‘She was evil! It’s so opposite to me and it was really fun doing it, I have never played a baddie.
‘I’ve done more musical theatre, even in Miss Marple, I wasn’t evil I was just a person smuggling a works of art in her piano, that’s the only other straight acting thing I did.
‘But Ellie ain’t playing, she’s hardcore, I mean I’m scared of her! I know someone I should say and I’ve literally borrowed their character.
Not yet: Mica’s character Ellie fled Albert Square after being thwarted by Phil Mitchell earlier this autumn, and the actress said the ‘phone hasn’t rung’ asking for her return just yet
‘I just can’t tell people who it is because I won’t be invited to the parties so I’ve got to keep schtum, so to keep it sweet I keep it quiet.’
Following the release of her acclaimed new album Gospel, her first new album in a decade, Mica will take to the stage at Quaglino’s to perform a collection of new and old hits.
The star said she couldn’t wait to get back on stage in front of a live audience after the arts industry ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told MailOnline: ‘These are the only places you can do it right now, some semblance of a show, small but small is my thing.
Exciting: It comes as Mica is set to mark the release of her new album Gospel with a socially-distanced performance at the Quaglino’s restaurant in London on Thursday 17th December
‘Desperate is an understatement, our lifeblood is being on stage performing that’s what we do, to a real musician that’s your life, you can imagine how everyone’s feel who hasn’t been able to perform all this time.
‘It’s literally torture, just awful, it’s like a death for us. I don’t care where it is, if I can find 10 people I’ll play, even when I was on tour with musicals and in between the show’s I’d play, I’d do shows in between the tour.’
‘It’s more than escapism, it’s inspirational, it’s been so sad for so long, and that’s why the record has been so important to make, this isolation thing is no joke we’re definitely made to be together as human beings.
‘We’re not good in isolation it’s not what we do. I’m just trying to ”hug” them with the tunes, that physically they can’t get but they’ll get from the music.’
Mica Paris will perform at Quaglino’s restaurant in London on Thursday 17th December at 9pm. Tickets are available now.
Sensational: The star said she couldn’t wait to get back on stage in front of a live audience after the arts industry ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic