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Joanna Page has revealed she found filming the final day of Gavin and Stacey Christmas special 'traumatic' as she opened up about the 'emotional' last day on set.
The last ever instalment will air in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show begged for an end to the story.
Viewers are hoping the episode will tie up loose ends, including Smithy and Nessa's love story - while finally answering what happened on Bryn and Jason's fishing trip.
And during a new interview the Welsh actress, 47, who portrays Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning TV series, revealed filming the last-ever episode left her 'hysterically crying and laughing'.
Joanna said: 'Being on set for the last time with everybody for the last day was traumatic. I knew I was going to cry as soon as I walked on set.
Joanna Page has revealed she found filming the final day of Gavin and Stacey Christmas special 'traumatic' as she opened up about the 'emotional' last day on set
The last ever instalment will air in a 90-minute special on Christmas Day this year after fans of the show begged for an end to the story
'I saw Steve's face, our first AD, and I just burst out crying. Then I saw Sophie Hebron, our second AD, and I burst out crying again. So then I went into my trailer and Julia Davis came in and sat with me, and I couldn't stop crying, because it just felt it was such a huge journey that was ending.
'So I found it very emotional but then in between that, hysterically funny, because the last scene we filmed was a funny one, so I just alternated between hysterically crying and hysterically laughing.'
Recalling the final moments on set, she continued: 'Right at the very end, on our last bit of filming, I just got this sense of calm wash over me.
'I remember standing there and looking around at everybody and everybody's faces, and I just remember smiling quite calmly to myself and thinking ‘wow, look where we've all come, look where we all are now’.
'I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to, and the way that I needed to, and then when they shouted, “it's a wrap” and then they clapped all of us goodbye and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying.'
After filming, Joanna revealed that she managed to take home a huge piece of her character Stacey from set.
She said: 'I have definitely snuck some memorabilia home, I have got all of Stacey's costume from the final episode, all of her shoes and her jewellery.
'Also, I've taken a framed painting home from Stacey and Gwen's house, and I also took this glass ornamental duck, which is an ornament from Stacey's sideboard in the living room.
Joanna said: 'Being on set for the last time with everybody for the last day was traumatic. I knew I was going to cry as soon as I walked on set'
She continued: 'I found it very emotional but then in between that, hysterically funny, because the last scene we filmed was a funny one, so I just alternated between hysterically crying and hysterically laughing'
'Right at the very end, I just got this sense of calm wash over me. I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to, and the way that I needed to, and then when they shouted, “it's a wrap” and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying'
Filming for the series finale first began on September 2, and since then the cast have been pictured in a string of locations, including the famous Barry Island in Wales, which takes centre stage in the iconic comedy.
One of the main plot points that's emerged appears to be Nessa's wedding, which could provide an answer to the cliffhanger that ended the 2019 special.
Stars Ruth Jones and James Corden were said to be filming scenes for a wedding in October.
However, the cast themselves have yet to confirm if Smithy and Nessa will indeed get their happy ending.
The cast recently confirmed that they had finished filming scenes on the famous Trinity Street, which acts as the backdrop for the homes of both Stacey and Gavin, her mother Gwen and uncle Bryn.
'You haven't seen anything because we've been indoors, which shows you're true committed fans of the show and we hope that you won't be disappointed on Christmas Day, when all will be revealed,' Ruth told fans.
'This is our farewell now to Barry and to Trinity Street, so you won't be seeing us here anymore but we've had a wonderful 17 years, it's been fantastic.'
James added: 'Thank you very much to everyone, we'll see you soon.'
Ruth has since told The Big Issue: 'I keep telling people this finale might not be what you are expecting. And I guarantee we will definitely not be coming back.'
It will be the first episode of the BBC sitcom since the last Christmas special in 2019
James added: 'What people are going to see on Christmas Day is the culmination of a 20-year love story, which hopefully shows, if nothing else, that love is complicated and messy and for everyone.'
It will be the first episode of the BBC sitcom since the last Christmas special in 2019.
That episode, which was watched by 12 million viewers, ended on a cliffhanger with Nessa down on one knee as she proposed.
The show centres around the ups and downs of Gavin and Stacey's initially long-distance relationship, with him living with his parents in Billericay, Essex, and her in Barry Island.
The pair eventually marry, while their respective best friends Smithy and Nessa have a son, Neil, who is now 15 and will also return for the final ever episode.
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer and Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell will air at 7pm on New Years Day on BBC One and iPlayer.
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