James Sutton has said he enjoys the "dark places" explored through Hollyoaks and his character John Paul McQueen.

Doing extensive research before the man he played was raped by on-screen student Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice), he "relishes" storylines that require a lot of work.

James Sutton as John Paul McQueen / ©LIMEPICTURES

"As an actor, I relish this sort of thing.

"I love doing stuff that I have to go out and research, and go to some really dark places for. I worked really closely with Survivors [a support group for male victims of rape and sexual abuse] in Manchester and it was eye-opening."

He did go on to admit that his younger co-star Keith was nervous he'd face real-life backlash following the nasty scenes, but advised his friend that accepting the abuse would be part of doing a good job.

Speaking to Gay Times magazine he continued: "I'm good friends with Keith Rice, who plays Finn, and he's been really worried about what people are going to say to him in the street and what abuse he might get - but I keep telling him this is his job.

"You either have to commit to it 100%, give it the best of your ability and be a nasty little piece of work, or you say no. You don't do it half-heartedly."


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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