The End of the F***ing World’s Jessica Barden reveals Alyssa’s heart-wrenching depression battle in season 2

SERIES two of The End of the F***ing World will see Alyssa battle with depression.

Actress Jessica Barden, 27, who plays her, has teased the turmoil that lies ahead for her troubled character in the latest run.

Jessica Barden says Alyssa will face some psychological demons in series twoCredit: Channel 4

She told RadioTimes.com: “She does start lying to herself. Basically, it’s somebody that is dealing with depression and doesn’t understand it.”
Season one ended with aspiring psychopath James (Alex Lawther) being shot and Alyssa, who had run away with him, screaming in horror.

Now series two will pick up two years on and see Alyssa having lost of confidence and struggling to deal with what happened to her.

“I’ve always related to Alyssa in her more brusk personality traits,” Jessica said of her alter ego.

Jessica in real lifeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Alyssa ran away with aspiring psychopath JamesCredit: Netflix

“And it was really interesting, and it was a great challenge to play somebody struggling with the things she’s struggling with.”

Jessica added that she was keen to show that depression doesn’t always manifest itself in an obvious fashion.

“Everything that you watch is a female character having a nervous breakdown, and crying all the time,” Jessica explained.

“When, for the most part, all of us know depression, or anxiety, or PTSD or grief — really, it’s about coping with it.”

Jessica insists she didn't want to portray depression in a typical fashion — Jessica insists she didn’t want to portray depression in a typical fashionCredit: Channel 4

Naomi Ackie joins the cast as BonnieCredit: Channel 4

She went on: Day to day, you’re not doing any of those things. You don’t cry in front of people. You don’t articulate to anybody what’s going on. You’re not on the verge of crying all the time, because you have to cope with your life.”

Jessica recently revealed that she had her doubts about returning to the show for a second run until she learned about the time-jump twist.

“I wasn’t going to do this, I just realised,’ Jessica said about series two.

“It’s not like I wasn’t going to do it, but I did have a really long time, about a year before I came back and did it, I did start to feel insecure about it because I felt I was so much older than the characters.”