Happy Valley star Charlie Murphy has said that she was "overwhelmed by how good" her character's ranting scene was when she read it in the script for last week's episode.
The actor, 34, plays Ann Gallagher on the BBC show, which will conclude its third and final series on Sunday. She has played the role since its first series, which aired in 2014.
The character was raped and abused by Tommy Lee Royce (played by James Norton ) in the first series. She later joined the police force and remains one of the main characters.
The latest series has seen Ann struggle with knowing Ryan Cawood (Rhys Connah) - her partner Daniel Cawood's ( Karl Davies ) nephew - has been visiting his dad Tommy in prison.
She vented at Ryan in the penultimate episode which aired on the weekend. Ann told him about Tommy's crimes and mentioned the impact they have had on those in his family.
Charlie spoke about the scene whilst appearing on the latest episode of the Obsessed With ... Happy Valley podcast. She recalled being "overwhelmed" by the script.
Asked how much notice she had about the scene, she said: "We get our first block of episodes first and then [creator Sally Wainwright is] finishing bits while we're doing that.
"So a couple of weeks later I got that episode five [script], and when I read that [scene], I was just so overwhelmed by how good it was. It was amazing. It's just amazing writing."
"It's not pleasant to hear and it's a bit gnarly. It's kind of just exactly where [Ann] is at that point [...] She's been stewing and she hasn't had a chance to vent really," she added.
Charlie said Ann felt "frustration and anger," adding: "[Ryan] seems to for her be pulling focus on everything that is bad in her life. [She wanted to] let him know what's going on."
She added: "We didn't do too much rehearsal. I wanted to kind of keep it fresh enough for [Rhys] to hear it when we were filming." She said the scene was a "real treat" as an actor.
Ann's speech came after Ryan asked if he could live with her and Daniel, after his grandmother Catherine Cawood ( Sarah Lancashire )'s disapproval of him visiting Tommy.
"What makes you think you'd be any more welcome here [...] if you're choosing to visit that p****?," she said. Ryan said it was "complicated," which prompted a reaction from Ann.
Ann referenced her own traumatic experience with Tommy in the scene, as well as discussing what Ryan's late mother, Becky Cawood, had gone through.
She also said that Ryan hadn't been "wanted" and suggested some of his family had once abandoned him. She added that he was being used by Tommy to "upset" Catherine.
The scene seemed to divide viewers, with some feeling that Ryan needed to hear it. "Uncomfortable but Ann was right, he needed to hear that," tweeted one viewer.
Another commented about the scene: "Ryan needed to hear all that, needed to know what Tommy is really like. They have all wrapped him in cotton wool for too long".
A third wrote: "Finally. Someone has said it. Good work Ann". Whilst another fan tweeted: "Ryan needed to hear that, he needs a serious wake up call and I hope that that was it".
Other viewers however felt that Ann went "too far," with some suggesting that she shouldn't have said that he had once been unwanted by some of his own family.
One tweeted: "Ann, too far. [...] As much as Ryan needed to hear that, that was not the way to do it". Another said: "Telling Ryan that he wasn't wanted is going a bit too far".
Another said: "That's taking it too far Ann. Way too far. He needed to know the truth, but telling him how unwanted he was [is] harsh". Another said that it had been "out of order".
Happy Valley concludes on Sunday night (February 5) from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Obsessed With ... Happy Valley podcast is available through BBC Sounds.
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
