EastEnders' Sean Mahon 'star-struck' by June Brown

\'EastEnders\' newcomer Sean Mahon was so "gobsmacked" to see June Brown on set he couldn\'t speak to her.

The \'Mr. & Mrs. Smith\' actor was "a bit star-struck" when he clapped eyes on the Walford veteran - who plays Dot Branning in the BBC One soap - that he "just sat there" next to her in the make-up chair and sneaked in a few glances at her.

He said: "I had a bit of a fan moment the other day. I was sitting in the make-up chair next to June Brown, who plays Dot Branning, and she was one of my favourite characters on the show when I was watching so many years ago.

"So I was a bit star-struck and gobsmacked. I didn\'t say a word. I just sat there and darted my eyes over a few times, so it was great."

Sean has joined the soap as Mel Owen\'s (Tamzin Outhwaite) ex Ray Kelly, and he has been "really taken" with what a "powerful" actress the 47-year-old star is.

He added: "She\'s such a strong, powerful, talented actress and a really good, decent person with a great sense of humour. She\'s so professional and completely committed to the work - it\'s been one of those great experiences.

"I was really just taken with how powerful she is on screen and how strong an actress she is."

Sean is no stranger to starring in big TV shows after appearing in \'ER\' as a community hospital doctor, and he has also starred alongside Johnny Depp in movie \'Dark Shadows\', and Cillian Murphy in 2016 war film \'Anthropoid\' - but he is looking forward to playing a tough character on Albert Square.

He added: "Prior to this, I was always cast as the good guy - the doctor, the lawyer. But now there\'s certainly more darkness and complexity to the characters I\'m being offered."