Emmerdale’s Louisa Clein reveals she and Joe-Warren Plant refused to film some scenes

Louisa Clein has admitted she and Emmerdale co-star Joe-Warren Plant refused to film some uncomfortable scenes during her character’s grooming storyline. 

The show saw Louisa’s paedophile character Maya Stepney groom teen Jacob Gallagher for months before she was finally arrested and jailed for her crimes in 2019.

Speaking to the Soap From The Box podcast, Louisa revealed she and Joe-Warren pushed back against some scenes given to them by the writers.

She explained: ‘Joe-Warren and I had a great relationship. We were very open about things and could really talk about how comfortable or uncomfortable we were about things.

‘Sometimes the writers would write something so simple and we would both go, “I don’t think that’s necessary, I don’t think we need to show that.”

‘I think actually far more effective if we show less or if the words say more as opposed to the action. I think we all felt very protected and very looked after.’

Louisa added that it is the ‘implication’ the words suggested and viewers could then use their imaginations as to what happened next.

Storyline: The show saw Louisa’s paedophile character Maya Stepney groom teen Jacob Gallagher for months before she was finally arrested and jailed for her crimes in 2019

Despite the fact the storyline is completely fictional, Louisa has received nasty comments from members of the public including one incident where a person called her ‘a b***h’ while out with her son. 

Speaking to The Sun, Louisa reflected: ‘I did have a situation where I was with my little son, who was two. I was in a shop and someone came up to me and went, “You are such a b***h.”

‘I was like, “You know it’s not real? I’m with my son and he just thinks some strange lady has come up to me and said something mean.”‘

She added that some ‘slightly older’ men have also shouted at her on the street, saying they were probably ‘too old’ for her because of the storyline.

Louisa said: ‘Sometimes the writers would write something so simple and we would both go, “I don’t think that’s necessary, I don’t think we need to show that”‘

Louise told the publication: ‘My response is usually that it’s not your age that’s the problem here.’

In 2019, fans couldn’t hide their shock as it was revealed that Maya was heavily pregnant after she was released from prison.

Despite Jacob’s attempts to contact her, the former teacher cut all ties as she left the prison, but appeared to be sporting a noticeable baby bump.

The long-running storyline between the characters proved controversial among soap fans as Maya groomed Jacob for months into thinking they were in a relationship in scenes branded ‘disgusting’ by some viewers.

Upsetting: Louisa recently revealed she has been verbally abused in public over her character Maya Stepney’s grooming storyline (pictured in 2019)

After falling completely under Maya’s spell, Jacob even tried to run away with her, but eventually she was caught by police.

After the truth was finally revealed, Maya was sentenced to a year behind bars, and Jacob took weeks to get over his ordeal.

At the time Emmerdale bosses insisted there were no plans for the actress to reprise her role as Maya any time soon.

Controversy: The long-running storyline between the characters proved controversial among soap fans as Maya groomed Jacob for months into thinking they were in a relationship