“One foot in front of the other… is all we can do.”
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal has thanked colleagues for their support following the death of her mother, Nirmal.
Taking to Instagram, Sopal posted a photo of herself alongside a lengthy caption which thanked the cast and crew of the BBC One soap for their support over the past few days, in particular the make-up department who had given her the “strength” to carry on.
“One foot in front of the other,” she began. “Everyone at work has been simply stunning… supportive, holding me up, and allowing me to feel what I need to in order to then get up and get the job done.
“Some days, it’s too hard and a right off. Other days, I can just about make it through, I am held.”
Sopal went on to write she knows her mum is still with her in spirit, something which encourages her to carry on.
She continued: “She loved EastEnders, was a huge fan, and would read every comment on Instagram, good & bad, reading them out to me. And then she would remind me how far I had come.
“I am also grateful to each and every one of you who have reached out, shared your own grief, and sent love from near and far. Thank you. One foot in front of the other… is all we can do.”
Several of the actor’s EastEnders co-stars shared their support in the comments, with Shiv Jalota and Emma Barton adding heart emojis in the comments, while Diane Parish wrote: “You’re incredible.”
Sopal announced the news of her mother’s passing at the end of March in an emotional post on Instagram, writing that she had “passed peacefully, with dignity & grace.”
“27th February 2024, 11.30pm, mum passed peacefully, with dignity & grace, just as she’d lived her whole life,” she wrote in the caption.
“We walked mum as far as we could. It’s been hard, but I’ve never known strength like mums. I’m proud to be her daughter.”
EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
