Casualty exclusive: Sarah Seggari on filming Rida’s harrowing story and future plot twists on the cards

“I’ve loved every second of my two years on Casualty, so when the producers told me they were giving me an A-storyline [the main plotline] over a whole 12-week episode block, I was honoured. I felt it was right for Rida, and I will for ever be grateful to them for letting me have this story and flex my acting skills.”

“Fundamentally, Rida always wants to do the right thing. However, this shows that when you’re pushed, you can get into situations you never expected. In the past, she’s been a whistleblower and, 13-weeks ago, she would never have signed an NDA, but she’s been broken down and isolated by Russell until you don’t recognise her – she even looks different.”

“Angered! When the script came out, all the cast messaged me saying they couldn’t believe it. Yet it happens all the time. During my research, I spoke to a lot of female victims who have unfortunately left medical practice because they’ve been given money to go away and be quiet. So I think it’s important we show this.”

“We call this, ‘Bad Rida comes out’, and I loved playing it. There’s pure anger, revenge, and a seething sense of no consequence.”

“Yes, and I can say that Robert is the polar opposite of Russell. He’s super easy to work with and we really bonded.”

“I think it was pertinent that she told her best friends what was happening. I loved joining the show with Anna and Barney as well as Eddie-Joe Robinson [who played fellow nurse Ryan Firth]. I also think it’s beautiful that we get to visit Cam’s [child grooming] storyline through Rida and I’m so glad that she now knows what he went through.”

Yes, we’re still in contact with Eddie-Joe [who left the show in January 2024] and have made up a story that Ryan works in physiotherapy at another hospital and, even though he’s got new mates, they talk all the time and he’s still very much part of the foursome. If one of our characters got married, he’d be at the wedding!”

“The reaction has been overwhelmingly lovely and I can't thank them enough, because I think, as an actor, you always expect backlash in whatever you do. I'm really privileged that they've really backed Rida and understood each decision that she's made and why she's made it.”

“I think when you read in a newspaper or see on the TV that a woman’s been attacked and had her hijab removed, as horrifying as it is, you don’t have a personal attachment. Whereas Casualty audiences have a personal attachment to Rida. So when it happens to her, it’s suddenly seen in a different way and you realise just how horrible and big of a moment it is for a Muslim woman to experience that.”

“I can’t say yet, but there’s something big coming up for her and I can’t wait to tell you about it! For now, Russell’s abuse of power has changed the way she thinks about the world and herself.

“There is also talk of Rida’s family coming into the show in the future, which is exciting. Personally, I want to see her get married, have babies and be happy, because I love her.”

“What I will say is, I know where that's going, but obviously nothing is going to be said! I think Rash and Rida will never not be in each other's life.”

“Honestly, everybody is lovely, but I think the people you're like [Sarah gives an excited squeal] to work with, are the people you don’t film much with.

“I always have a laugh with Barney; we are really good friends outside and inside of work, so it's just real and what you see is two mates.

“Milo [Clarke, who plays paramedic Teddy Gowan] and I get excited to film with each other because we don't work with each other often and are mates.

“And of course, Neet! He’ll normally text me first and be like, ‘We've got another scene,’ and I'm like, ‘Yes!’”

“It’s like Disneyland, isn’t it? It never gets old. I loved working on the surgery set [which was constructed for Internal Affairs]. I love a lift scene, as it’s a place where the characters can really talk to each other, and I also feel a special connection to the history of Casualty every time I film on the roof because a lot of big storylines have happened on there. It’s where Stevie Nash [Elinor Lawless] tried to kill Ethan Hardy [George Rainsford] with scissors [in 2021]. I’m really lucky Rida gets quite a lot of time on the roof.”

“I urge you to talk to the anonymous helplines made available on the BBC Action Line at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline. Please don’t bottle it up, or live in silence. We handled it with real care, and I hope we’ve done justice to the truth of what unfortunately happens in real workplaces.”