While Barney Mitchell may be struggling with school crushes and shady family secrets in EastEnders, the actor behind the troubled teen is proving to be something of a real-life genius.

18-year-old Lewis Bridgeman, who plays Barney, has impressed fans with his compelling performances since arriving in Walford last June. But behind the scenes, Lewis’s talents go far beyond the acting world — he’s officially in the top 2% of the world’s population for intelligence, having passed Mensa’s famously tough IQ test when he was just 12 years old.

Diagnosed with autism, anxiety, and dyspraxia, Lewis has never let labels define him. Despite early challenges with social interaction, he’s thrived both academically and creatively. His mum, Jayne, once shared that she was warned secondary school would be “a horrible time” for her son. But the opposite proved true. With the right support at school and a growing sense of self-confidence, Lewis has blossomed — and Mensa recognition was a turning point.

“He has found confidence in himself,” Jayne said. “Someone thinks he is clever — now we know why he always beats us at quiz games!”

This brilliant mind now brings extraordinary depth to his on-screen alter ego, Barney Mitchell — and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Barney has become one of Walford’s most emotionally complex young characters, caught in the crosshairs of an ever-expanding family drama that’s only just getting started.

Fans recently watched in shock as Barney accidentally exposed Sharon Watts’ affair with Grant Mitchell, sending shockwaves across the Square. The twist was especially heartbreaking given that Barney doesn’t yet realize Zack Hudson is his biological father — a secret that’s been tightly guarded by his mother, Nicola Mitchell.

Zack, crushed by the revelation, has been quietly desperate to bond with his son — but Nicola isn’t letting it happen. In fact, she’s gone to cruel lengths to push him away, including firing Zack from the bar and orchestrating a humiliating incident that left Barney mortified.

In a calculated move, Nicola recruited teen troublemakers Joel Marshall and Tommy Moon to mock Barney during a training session with Zack, leaving Barney convinced Zack set him up. The betrayal hit hard, especially given Barney’s longing for connection — and his belief that maybe, just maybe, Zack was someone he could trust.

While struggling with betrayal on one side, Barney’s also nursing a quiet heartbreak on another. He’s developed feelings for classmate Avani Nandra-Hart, but she’s made it clear she only sees him as a friend. For a young man trying to make sense of his identity and place in the world, it’s a lot to take.

But Lewis handles it all with a rare emotional authenticity — perhaps a result of both his intelligence and lived experience navigating the world a little differently than most. Fans have praised his ability to convey Barney’s vulnerabilities, internal struggles, and quiet strength, calling his portrayal “beautifully nuanced” and “one of the best new performances on the show in years.”

And as the storyline deepens — with Zack’s paternity reveal on the horizon, Nicola’s secrets unraveling, and Barney’s relationships shifting — Lewis’s talents are certain to shine even brighter.

With Mensa smarts, acting chops, and a character at the heart of one of EastEnders’ most intense new plots, Lewis Bridgeman is definitely one to watch — both on screen and off.