The 59-year-old star, who returned to Albert Square as the character Chrissy Watts in the Christmas Day episode of the BBC soap, said that when she discusses the rise of antisemitism, the situation in the Middle East, and the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 2023, she is ‘fully informed’.

Oberman explained: ‘Many actors and actresses I know speak out on subjects that they really don’t know anything about.

‘They sign letters that they haven’t fully read or understood the implications of.

‘I think I have gained respect because even if people disagree with what I say, they know that it comes from a place of knowledge, understanding, and my truth. It’s a lived experience.

‘So when I talk about antisemitism, when I talk about the Middle East, when I talk about October 7, I am fully informed. And I think that is something that the industry and people in general respect.’

Her comments come after a series of famous names, such as Olivia Colman, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Mike Leigh and Judi Dench, lent their support to Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

Mr El-Fattah served more than a decade of nearly continuous detention in Egyptian jails before his release in September 2025. He flew back to London after a previous attempt to leave Egypt in November was blocked by the security forces.

But as his family celebrated his return to the UK, evidence of Mr El-Fattah’s historic social media posts emerged, which allegedly included support for the killing of ‘Zionists’ and the British police – and branding Britons ‘dogs and monkeys’.

His posts included one stating, ‘I consider killing any colonialists and especially Zionists heroic, we need to kill more of them’ and another claiming, ‘There was no genocide against Jews by the Nazis – after all, many Jews are left’. These celebrity endorsements seem horribly misjudged.

Oberman who is Jewish herself, also revealed that during a time when many actors and actresses in the profession of the same faith as her have felt the impact of rising antisemitism, she has actually found that her defiant stance has helped secure more respect and also work.

‘I am to be able to be a role model and show that you can still be true to your identity, ‘ the actress told Jewish News.

‘You can be proud of who you are. You can advocate for what you believe in and still be in constant employment. I have never felt so supported by incredible allies both creatively and politically.’ added Oberman, who received an MBE in February.

Oberman reprised her iconic EastEnders role for this year’s highly-anticipated Christmas storyline. ‘I got a message asking if I’d like to come back for Christmas Day, and I just thought – what fun. To take Chrissy back on that day, of all days,’ she explained.

Her character Chrissy briefly reappeared in 2023, but she left the BBC soap in December 2005, when was sent to prison for the murder of her husband Den Watts, played by Lesley Grantham.

She had first joined the soap in April 2004 and quickly became a prominent figure, racking up a huge list of enemies, including Kate Mitchell (Jill Halfpenny) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).

But her biggest storyline saw her bludgeon ‘Dirty Den’ to death in self-defence in the show’s special 20th anniversary episode.

The infamous moment was watched by a staggering 14.34 million people, with almost 60 per cent of possible viewers tuning in.

Oberman has also had big roles in Friday Night Dinner, Doctor Who, Waterloo Road, and Toast of London.