Walford's bad girl hits back

[carmelina]

SHE'S fast becoming the bad girl of Albert Square after pimping out her boyfriend Mickey as a male escort and starting up a cannabis farm in the cupboard of his flat.

But EastEnders actress Elaine Tan reckons conniving Li Chong is just misunderstood.

She said: "Li put an ad for Mickey in the Walford Gazette and even though she wants him to do it, she has started to get a feel of what it was like seeing him with other girls and she is a bit jealous.

"I like the character because she's smart. She isn't very likeable and rubs people up the wrong way.

"But she knows what she wants and does anything she can to get it.

"She has got a heart though and her family are very important to her. She's a survivor and does what she needs to do to get money and carry on with life."

"Playing a nasty character can be more fun," she added. "Li is a good strong character but I don't think the public have seen yet why she does what she does.

"Yes she comes across as dodgy and scheming and a conniving little cow who stirs up trouble, but there are people like that in real life."

The 24-year-old beauty has been in the top BBC1 soap for the past eight months and admits her first few days were a bit surreal.

"Getting the part all happened so quick. When I got on set I was thinking 'here I am in the cafe and Ian Beale is standing over there'.

"They are such well-known characters that it's like diving into a video game. I did call people by their character names at first, especially the older ones. But I feel so at home now."

Li's relationship with Mickey - played by Joe Swash - is taking centre stage at the moment as the pair attempt to earn cash through his escort work.

And after selling dodgy DVDs on Walford Market and stealing money from Mickey's younger brother Darren, Li now has her sights set higher up the criminal ladder.

She's currently using a cupboard in Mickey and Gus's flat to grow cannabis plants.

She said: "I never realised just how many people watched EastEnders. On the street I normally just get people shouting 'Mickey's bird' at me but a few say take it easy on him and don't be so hard on Darren."

Elaine added: "Joe is absolutely brilliant. We get on really well and he put me so at ease for my first scenes.

"It's funny though. Joe knocks stuff over, just like Mickey. He won't be going near it and it'll just fall over."

The star is now preparing her gladrags for the British Soap Awards on Saturday where EastEnders is up for a host of gongs including the nation's favourite.

But she says while Li might not be in love with Mickey, fans could well see her attitude begin to change.

"She sees he has a really good heart," says Elaine. "She has been let down by men in the past and Mickey is very sweet.

"Sometimes he doesn't come across as the brightest tool in the shed but she is attracted to his warm personality.

"I don't think she'd pimp him out if she loved him but there are feelings there that are starting to grow. So we shall see!"



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[Skylace]

I can't stand the character myself, but the actress is good.

[Marcella-FL]

I think the character is annoying and the storyline makes no sense. She pursued Mickey like a starved dog, he was visually frightened of her and now they are together? I don't get it. Preeti is more his type anyways ...

[Skylace]

[eefanincan]

I've nothing to add what Sky and Marcella said... only that I agree!

[pirtybirdy]

I agree also, but like to add that it smells of a last minute storyline change, which isn't the first time Eastenders has done stuff like that. It makes it so obvious when they start out one way and end up another way which doesn't make sense.

[eefanincan]

That's a good point pirty--- I think you might be right on that one. I'm not at all happy with the way this storyline has played out. I mean, I'm sure stuff like that happens to a certain extent in real life, but the way it's played out with May/Rob/Dawn, it's starting to feel more like an American soap.