BBC EastEnders’ Reiss Colwell’s real life and surprise transformation away from soap

EastEnders’ Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) is currently dealing with a mountain of stress as he and partner Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) continue with their complicated IVF journey. Things haven’t exactly started off well, with the on-edge couple rowing at their very first appointment after Sonia took issue with Reiss trying to administer her medication.

With tensions high between the hopeful parents, viewers fear the worst is yet to come, with Sonia of course yet to learn that Reiss had taken money from his comatose wife Debbie Colwell (Jenny Meier) to pay for their IVF treatment. With Reiss now making more frequent visits to Debbie’s bedside, some fans have even theorised that she could be about to wake up, throwing a spanner firmly in the works of any baby-making plans.

As Reiss frets over his future with Sonia, we take a look at actor Jonny’s life behind the scenes, including his very different offscreen look.

Reiss is a character who isn’t quite comfortable in his own skin, and this shows through his outward appearance. With his rather awkward persona, unkempt hair, and quirky style of dress, he isn’t viewed as one of the great EastEnders heartthrobs. It’s easy to forget therefore that the actor who plays him is actually a very handsome man, with striking features, large, soulful eyes, and a carefully trimmed beard.

Indeed, many soap fans were left aghast after an actor’s headshot taken of Jonny reemerged on social media, with the thespian looking practically unrecognisable from his most famous character. One admiring person gasped: “Can we start a petition to give Reiss a glow-up and let Jonny out?” Another agreed: “Not the first time I’ve seen what Jonny looks like out of character but it stuns me every time!!! He’s soooooo different!!” A third person tweeted: “It’s like a transformation in superman”.