Actor Jonny Freeman of EastEnders, who plays Reiss Colwell, has been a constant on our screens for years, but it turns out he had a totally different position before he joined the BBC soap opera.
For devoted EastEnders fans who have been wondering why new villain Reiss Colwell seems so familiar, the answer has finally come to light.
Entertainer Jonny Freeman first appeared in Albert Square in 2022 as the enigmatic Reiss, who is now involved in a scandalous plot after his wife Debbie passed away.
Debt-ridden Reiss took the life of his comatose spouse with deadly intent earlier this month. He’s got a baby on the way too as he and other half Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) wait on their little one unbeknownst to his wife-to-be that Reiss has a bit of a dark streak.
As Reiss starts cropping up more on screen, fans have been racking their brains about where they’ve seen Jonny before. Before landing his latest gig on the square, Jonny featured in telly heavyweights like Silent Witness and Holby City.
But it’s his earlier role in the kids’ TV hit M. I. High that’s causing most lightbulb moments among the audience. Jonny was the face behind Frank London on the popular CBBC spy-thriller aimed at teens, which enjoyed its run from 2007 to 2011, reports OK!.
Eagle-eyed fans have taken to social platforms to exclaim their realisations, with one Reddit user exclaiming: “Finally, people agree! I mean Jesus Christ Jonny Freeman, you were so much better back in your MI High days as Frank.” Another fan echoed the sentiment: “Omg I did not know he was Frank? ! Insane.”
Jonny’s CV doesn’t end with teenage spies though; he’s graced our screens in Dalziel and Pascoe, had stints in Doctors and Love Soup, and even popped up in adverts, hawking goodies for brands such as Domino’s Pizza, Ford and Trebor Mints.
The actor behind EastEnders ‘ latest bad boy Reiss has dished the dirt on his character’s descent into villainy. After joining the soap as Dot Cotton’s great-nephew in 2022, Reiss quickly became a regular fixture, embarking on a tumultuous romance with Sonia that’s been nothing short of dramatic.
Now, it seems he’s taken a dark turn, having killed his wife and tried to con Walford locals like Sharon Watts and Phil Mitchell out of their hard-earned cash.
Reiss might be in a tight spot, but he’s not exactly making the best choices. Jonny, who plays the troubled lad, opened up about Reiss’ “dark side” in a chat with RadioTimes.com.
He explained: “Rather than the darker side of Reiss, it’s the same character but obviously the circumstances have changed and he’s perhaps making mistakes to get out of them. Like anyone under huge pressure, one mistake is made and it can start to unravel, so I think that’s what we’re seeing with Reiss. Rather than a darker side, I think the essence of the character is the same but the circumstances are getting a bit more complicated.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
