EastEnders' Reiss Colwell, played by Jonny Freeman, has left fans gobsmacked with a pre-soap photo amid his Albert Square exit. Soap devotees are doing double takes over the "handsome" actor who is "unrecognisable" from his Walford persona. Tonight's episode proves to be a tense one for Reiss and Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) as Reiss admitted that he had framed Bianca for the murder of his wife Debbie (Jenny Meier) - with Sonia suddenly realising that he was actually the killer.
While Jonny may be quietly terrifying as Reiss in Albert Square, the actor sent fans into a frenzy last year when he posted a throwback picture on social media. The star looked worlds away from his EastEnders character, sporting a neatly trimmed beard and a full head of hair with no comb-over in sight. The headshot captures the actor smouldering into the camera with his piercing green eyes. Fans were quick to notice the picture and gush over the actor's good looks. "Very handsome, should have kept him like that," one fan commented.
Another added: "What a difference... shocker." A third fan chimed in: "Omg he is so good looking, he looks so different in real life,". Fans on social media are buzzing about the transformation of a soap star, with one commenting: "OMG so different.". Jonny has graced our screens in BBC's Silent Witness and Channel 4's Top Boy, but it was his move to the soap world in 2022 that had him "delighted". Reflecting on his warm welcome at the time, he shared: "Everybody has been so welcoming, and I'm very lucky to have been working so closely with the lovely Natalie Cassidy, who is not only a fantastic actress but a delightful person; she has very kindly helped me navigate my first few weeks.".
He added, "I hope I can do Reiss justice. He is kind but socially awkward, and seeing how he manages, or doesn't manage, his early exchanges with Sonia and her nearest and dearest has been quite interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how both audiences and the residents of Walford respond to him.". While tonight's episode sees Reiss flee after being hit over the head by Bianca, who had broken free from the lock up where he had been imprisoning her, many fans are convinced that Reiss will meet a grisly end during the show's 40th anniversary celebrations.
