Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson has teased whether her character Maxine Minniver will reunite with Damon Kinsella after their split.
The character lost everything and everyone when her lies were exposed, with her claiming she was seriously ill.
She was later diagnosed with Munchausen’s syndrome, which the NHS describes as "a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves".
Maxine had lied to Damon continuously about being ill, with him fearing she was going to die.
From rushing their wedding to him being arrested after using money that the village had raised in charity for her, their lives were turned upside down.
When the truth came out Damon left Maxine, and recent scenes have seen him refusing to forgive her.
Maxine is facing big money troubles, forced into prostitution to pay off debts - but while she chose to open up to Damon, he accused her of lying like before.
But speaking exclusively to Mirror Online , actress Nikki hinted hope was not lost for the pair.
The star said a reunion could come about in the future, but was unlikely for the time being.
She explained: "Obviously Maxine is absolutely understanding why Damon doesn't believe her, but also she's upset because she does need help.
"She needs somebody and is reaching out, asking for help, but because of the past she’s being ignored and mocked. Like the boy who cried wolf so many times, no one believes her .
"Maxine is hurting and upset but she totally understands why he's doing it."
On reunion hopes, she added: "I think Maxine and Damon are a fabulous couple and they genuinely love each other.
"Maybe not so much now though. I think people forget Munchausen’s syndrome is a mental health condition. She was ill, just not in the way that she was portraying.
"Yes she did very bad things and needs her comeuppance, but she also needs an understanding that her mind manipulated her into doing these things, and she was in a dark place."
Nikki added: "It doesn't excuse any of it, but it needs some level of understanding, the disorder was controlling her life.
"The only way for them to get back together is maybe if that level of understanding was fully there, and full forgiveness for what has happened because she is genuinely sorry, but we'll see."
Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6:30pm on Channel 4, with the next episode at 7pm on E4.
