Mila Marwa has said goodbye to Albert Square in EastEnders.
The character arrived in Walford just over a year ago and since then she has been involved in a powerful FGM storyline that saw Mila protect her younger sister Kioni.
Having won custody of her little sister, the family are now leaving the serial drama but fans are hoping that the characters might return again in the future.
Mila actress Ruhtxjiaïh Bèllènéa has since praised the BBC soap for its portrayal of the topic, as well as the responsibility she felt communicating the topic to audiences.
She has also led an interesting career outside of the soap too, including celebrating at the British Independent Film Awards in 2019.
EastEnders exit
(Image: BBC)
Fans were devastated when Ruhtxjiaïh announced earlier this year that she would be leaving EastEnders, just over one year since she first arrived on Albert Square.
Speaking about her decision to leave the soap, a source told The Sun: “Ruhtxjiaïh was brought into the soap last year to be part of a very important FGM storyline.
“Her character’s time has run its course so it’s time for her to move on.”
(Image: BBC)
The news followed earlier announcements that Iqra Ahmed actress Prita Davdra and Mick Carter actor Danny Dyer would also be leaving the soap in 2022.
The source added: “There has been a lot of change on the soap recently and other stars are getting concerned they could be part of the next shake-up.”
Following the departure of cast members including Ruhtxjiaih, Prita and Danny there were reports that the EastEnders cast were ‘concerned for their future’, which has since been dispelled as ‘nonsense’ by makers of the soap.
However, a spokesperson for the soap told Digital Spy: “To say any cast member is now considering their future on the show due to another cast member leaving is nothing but speculative nonsense.”
Storyline responsibility
(Image: BBC)
Ruhtxjiaïh’s character Mila was brought into EastEnders as part of a storyline about FGM, which saw her reveal that she had been a victim herself.
Viewers also watched as the character tried to protect her younger sister Kioni from being a victim of FGM too.
As the storyline aired on the BBC, the actress praised the soap for shedding light on the topic, telling Yahoo news: “We need to be faced with the reality of the world we live in and all its shapes, colours and intricacies,” adding: “This story and topic is so many people’s reality.
“Not distant strangers, but people living and walking by us every day.”
(Image: BBC)
Talking about the responsibility of communicating the storyline on a huge soap such as EastEnders, the actress also said that she was honoured to be part of the storyline, telling Inside Soap: “I immediately felt a weight of responsibility, but in the best possible way.
“I was so glad that a current topic that most people wouldn’t want to handle – because of its fragility and cultural identity – was being brought to the forefront on such a massive platform.”
She added: “I was honoured to know I’d be able to give it the respect, care, and commitment to truth it deserved. I was ready for the challenge, though aware that I wanted to get it right.”
Award joy
(Image: Picturehouse/Youtube)
Ruhtxjiaïh has had a quick rise to the top since graduating from the Arts Education School, London in 2017.
Following her graduation, the star appeared in the critically acclaimed production Harry Potter and The Cursed Child in the West End, before making her TV debut in programmes including Temple 2 and Dark Money.
She has also appeared in films including Venice at Dawn and Rise Above.
However, the actress was delighted to be given the award for Best Supporting Actress as the British Independent Film Awards in 2019, for her role in The Last Tree.
(Image: IMDb)
Collecting her award, the actress was speechless following her win, but took to the stage to dedicate it to the people who believed in her growing up.
She said: “The people who kept me believing in myself and knowing that I was going to be more than what I was told, was my teachers – drama teachers, school teachers – so I just want to give a quick shout out to those people.”
She added: “Those teachers that are out there, just know that whatever you are doing, these kids that you see that maybe look troubled or you know, just maybe need a little push, to just keep doing that because you know, you never know what is going to happen.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
