Reason Anya is sometimes seen without wheelchair in Run Away as viewers ‘confused’ over detail

Viewers have been left with a ton of questions after tuning into Harlan Coben's Run Away - especially in regards to a 'confusing' aspect about one of the characters.

The eight-part thriller, which is inspired by the US author's 2019 novel of the same name, has been taking Brits by storm since it landed on Netflix on New Year's Day.

The cast of the hit series includes the likes of James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones and Minnie Driver, as well as a host of rising stars from the UK such as Ellie Henry, who plays schoolgirl Anya Greene.

While her parents are busy trying to track down their troubled eldest daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange), she's quietly distracting herself with her studies and seeking solace in her brother Sam.

Somehow, Anya still manages to excel at school despite the chaos that is consuming her family in Run Away - most of which she has been left in the dark about.

Viewers have been heaping praise on Ellie, who previously starred in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, for her performance in Run Away. However, one aspect of her character has left some people a bit 'confused'.

Throughout the Netflix series, Anya is seen using a wheelchair in most of the scenes she appears in.

But in other parts of the show, she can be seen standing without any aids and even walking... and a lot of people who have been tuning in can't get their heads around why.

Taking to Reddit, one person said: "Why is the other daughter sometimes in a wheelchair and sometimes able to walk? Did I miss something?"

Another added: "After her school teacher-parent conference, she appears to be walking and standing at the same height as her parents. Does she need that wheelchair or not? Can she walk sometimes or was this just a misunderstanding as I viewed the scene?"

Ellie seen with her onscreen parents James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver in Run Away (Netflix)

And a third pointed out: "They never address it in the storyline."

It turns out that Anya's ad hoc use of a wheelchair is actually down to a health condition that the actress who plays her has in real life.

Ellie, 24, was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) nearly a decade ago. According to the NHS, this term describes a group of rare inherited conditions that affect the connective tissue in our bodies.

Common symptoms include joint hypermobility, stretchy skin and fragile skin that breaks or bruises easily.

Speaking to the BBC in February last year, Ellie explained how she got her EDS diagnosis and how it actually inspired her acting career.

"When I was 15 I did a pirouette and dislocated every joint in my right leg," she said. "I couldn't get up. They said, 'You've got Ehlers-Danlos syndrome'.

The 24-year-old, who was diagnosed with EDS as a teenager, doesn't always need to rely on a wheelchair (Instagram/@henry_ellie)

"I was looking to achieve a lot of GCSEs at quite a high level, then medically that wasn't possible for me. So, I looked at the other things I enjoyed doing, and decided to go to drama school.

"I think I had assumed you couldn't do it as a career because I found it so fun. I'm very, very glad that I did."

As she has EDS, Ellie relies on a wheelchair intermittently throughout her everyday life - so although she sometimes needs one to get around, she can also stand up and walk for short periods, too.

According to The Ehlers-Danlos Society, a 'small percentage' of sufferers require a wheelchair because of the condition, however, they are 'not recommended as standard practice'.

It explains that wheelchairs are often the only option for EDS patients who struggle to move due to 'joint instability, pain, deconditioning, or comorbidities', however, they can also do more harm than good.

The organisation states: "Consideration should always be given to whether using a wheelchair will make symptoms worse. Deconditioning occurs quickly when we stop moving.

Ellie is an ambulatory wheelchair user in both the Netflix series and real life (Netflix)

"Limiting or removing walking from daily life can weaken the trunk and leg muscles. This can worsen joint instability and could potentially worsen a person’s overall condition to the point of being unable to walk."

Ellie revealed how she managed to secure the role of Anya in Run Away, despite the producers behind the series not actively seeking out a disabled actress for the gig.

"The character I'm playing is not disabled in the book, and they weren't casting for a disabled character, but my agent put me forward for it," the screen star previously told the BBC.

"My agent is phenomenal. They only represent disabled talent and they've championed me since day one. And luckily, Netflix and the whole casting team have been so open-minded in bringing me in for that role."

Social media users have also praised Ellie for providing some much-needed representation on screen, as a lot of people said it is the first time they have ever seen an ambulatory wheelchair user in such a significant role on the telly.