Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mia O'Hare

EastEnders fans wowed as hunky star 'unrecognisable' from his awkward geeky character

EastEnders fans were left doing a double take after they found out what Reiss Colwell's actor looks like in real life.

Many viewers have now been swooning over the "handsome" actor who is "unrecognisable" from his Albert Square character.

Jonny Freeman first appeared on screens as the late Dot Branning's great-nephew, Reiss.

The awkward character attended Dot's funeral and has since struck up a romance with Sonia Fowler after having an obvious crush on her.

Reiss came to Sonia's rescue after he helped to secure Dot's house following the discovery of a huge tax inheritance bill.

But Reiss' heroic acts have been nothing compared to fans reaction to his chiseled looks away from the screen.

Jonny plays Reiss in the soap (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

In a snap posted on social media, Jonny looks a world away from his EastEnders character.

He sported a trimmed beard unlike Reiss and has a full head of hair with no comb-over in sight.

The headshot shows the actor smouldering at the camera with his piercing green eyes.

It wasn't look till fans saw the pictures and gushed over the actor's looks.

“Very handsome, should have kept him like that,” gushed one fan.

Someone else chimed in: "What a difference... shocker."

He joined the cast of EastEnders last year (BBC)
EastEnders fans go wild for hunky actor who looks nothing like onscreen character (actorsmanagement.co.uk)

“Omg he is so good looking, he looks so different in real life,” added a third fan.

A fourth agreed: "OMG so different.”

The EastEnders star has also made appearances in BBC ’s Silent Witness and Channel 4 ’s Top Boy but was "delighted" to join the soap in 2022.

"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 said.

"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."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.