Actress Claire Gavin, who plays Will and Mairead's daughter Phoebe on Fair City, has said Phoebe is "blindsided" by her father's evils.
The RTÉ soap is gearing up for dramatic scenes in the coming week as Will stands trial for abusing his former partner Cristiano.
Will has managed to manipulate Phoebe into believing Cristiano was the one doing harm in their relationship, and that he was actually the victim.
His lies are driving a wedge between Phoebe and her mother Mairead, who is steadfast in her support for Cristiano.
In an interview with RTÉ Entertainment, Gavin spoke about why Phoebe has been so taken in by Will's deceptions and whether her relationship with Mairead can be salvaged.
Phoebe is always caught in the middle – does she realise her father is manipulating her?
No. Phoebe is completely blindsided by her love for her father. Will has always been an idol in Phoebe's eyes and it would take a lot for her to realise who the real Will is. She has absolutely no doubt that her father is innocent, and everyone is just out to get him. Bear in mind, Will is also very, very good at manipulating people, so although from the outset it's obvious to the audience, for Phoebe this person is her father. Why would she have reason to think that her father would manipulate her? You don't do that to someone you love? These would all be reasons why at the moment she is completely blindsided to his evils.
Does she have any doubts about who was the abuser in Will and Cristiano's relationship?
No. I do suspect that she is somewhat concerned about all the talk about him, but in her mind there's no way her father would ever be capable of being so horrible. She also has absolutely no incentive to want to believe it. She wants to believe the lies because the truth would be so unbearable. Nobody wants to believe their father is capable of such evil and for Phoebe, she will cling on to anything she can to believe her father is innocent. It's hard, because obviously Will deserves to go to jail. But, at the same time, he is her father, and that would absolutely break her. Whatever doubt she may have, she will not listen to it. Because if she does, there's a whole other unbearable situation to deal with. And that is that her father is an abuser.
Phoebe and Will convince Dolores to take the stand – is Phoebe willing to do anything to clear her father's name?
Phoebe is more than willing. She has offered several times. Sadly, her father does truly love her and won't risk damaging Phoebe's mental health in order to help him.
Her relationship with Mairead is hugely strained. Do you think it can survive the trial?
Mairead and Phoebe are so close – their bond is probably closer than that of herself and Will. But, because they are so close, Phoebe is quicker to judge and hurt her mam. The people you are closer to, you aren't afraid of hurting them as much, sadly. For Phoebe, Will is an idol and his image in her head is golden. Yet, Mairead gets the brunt of a lot of Phoebe's emotions. Also, in Phoebe's eyes at the moment, her mam is doing something so cruel to her father, who is innocent. Phoebe is very just and things can be black and white in her mind, so unless she can see that her mam is right or isn't being "evil", she won't forgive her, no matter how close they are.
How does Phoebe find seeing her father on the stand at the trial?
Phoebe isn't actually allowed into the courtroom; she waits outside. Because of Covid, fewer people are allowed into the courtroom. So, because of this, Will is still able to manipulate Phoebe. He can tell her whatever he likes that went on in the courtroom and Phoebe has no other option but to believe him. This makes Phoebe – once again – more on her father's side. And the lies keep on building for Phoebe, and she believes them all.
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Fair City airs on RTÉ One on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
