Emmerdale’s Natalie Ann Jamieson says filming her latest tough storyline has been child’s play, thanks to her young co-star.
The actress, who plays Amy Wyatt in the ITV soap, this week learns her son Kyle is a killer.
Viewers will see the 10-year-old, played by Huey Quinn, confess all to mum Amy tomorrow.
Natalie told how the scenes have been hard to film – and young Huey has even had to step in with some script prompts.
“It’s so funny… every time I forgot a line, he’d tell me it,” Natalie says. “I’d go ‘Why do you know my lines? You’ve got enough of your own to learn!’”
Speaking about the moment Amy discovers the truth about her son, Natalie says: “They’re very emotional scenes.
“We filmed it one day, just the two of us on set. There was lots of crying… it was draining.
“There’s a lot for Huey to do in that episode so I was just so proud of him.”
Kyle’s on-screen dad Cain Dingle ( Jeff Hordley ) has taken the rap for the murder of Al Chapman ( Michael Wildman ) – but the boy was revealed as the real killer in Friday’s cliffhanger.
Despite not having children of her own, Natalie found it easy to portray a protective mother. “Any mum would do all they could to protect their child, especially at that age,” she says.
“I don’t think there would be any other instinct than to protect them.
“On my scripts, I had stage directions that read, ‘Like a lioness protecting her cub’ so you can see how they wanted it to be played.
“Talking to lots of other actresses on set who have children, they say that’s just what you do. There would be no way you’d let your child take the fall.”
But Natalie couldn’t ask her own family for their take on the storyline as it has been top secret – until now. There’s been a lot going on in Emmerdale lately.
The Yorkshire soap recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and four major characters – Liv Flaherty ( Isobel Steele ), Faith Dingle ( Sally Dexter ) and Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) and Al Chapman – were dramatically killed off.
Does Natalie fear a similar fate could befall her character? “All the time!” she admits. “You hear there’s a serial killer and you automatically think, ‘We’re all going to die. It’s definitely going to be me’.
"In your head, you’ve already written it. ‘Of course it’s going to be me because I did this…’ You join the dots. It’s always a relief when it’s not.
“Any minute could be your last so you just enjoy every moment.”
Natalie hopes that because Amy has been involved in so many big storylines, she will remain safe for now.
“It’s been a busy year for me,” she says. “It’s been great to be involved in some of the big storylines. There’s long-lost sisters and children with guns for Amy… there’s lots going on.”
Natalie admits is has been tough saying goodbye to so many cast mates in recent months though – many of them are good friends in real-life.
“We’ve had lots of leaving parties lately,” she adds. “It’s strange and sad, but it’s the nature of soaps. There’s always a turnaround.”
Away from the set, a number of cast members have also recently had children – including Laura Norton, who plays Natalie’s on-screen mum Kerry.Does Natalie feel under pressure to start her own family?
“I’m not a particularly maternal person,” says the actress, who met her partner Ali Ward at drama school.
“I don’t dream about being pregnant or having children.
“I’m constantly around young people and love having them in my life – they’re an absolute joy – but I never think about having my own.”
Natalie is enjoying being a mentor to Huey though – and believes he has a bright future ahead.
“He’s such an inquisitive young man,” she says. “He’s constantly asking questions and wants to know what’s going on.
“He could do any job on set as he knows everything that’s going on. He’s so funny… he’ll talk you through the entire family tree.
“He’ll ask why I’m a Wyatt not a Dingle and then he goes, ‘Oh, I know, you just did it with a Dingle!’ He should be writing this stuff.” Natalie joined Emmerdale in 2019 to replace Chelsea Halfpenny, who originally played Amy.
Before that she appeared on stage and in ITV’s Vera. But Natalie reckons her first soap role was meant to be.
“My partner’s grandma – she’s a big Emmerdale fan – and she used to say to me, ‘You don’t half remind me of that girl on Emmerdale’. And it was Chelsea playing Amy. So when the role came up, Ali was, like, ‘You’ve got to get it for Nanny Pat’.
“A couple of the casting directors said I reminded them of Chelsea, too. I was made for the role.”
Recalling her first days on set, Natalie says: “Laura took me under her wing. When I joined, I thought, ‘I don’t know how anyone does this job… it’s too much.’ But Laura really helped me through.”
While she is loving her time on Emmerdale, Natalie dreams of starring in a sitcom one day – and is also keen to try her hand at reality TV.
“ Dancing on Ice would be a good challenge but reality shows are scary because everyone is so good!” she says.
“The jungle looks like fun although just standing on that platform doesn’t tickle my fancy.
“That’s the first hurdle… if you can’t do that, you’re in for a world of hate!”
Watch Emmerdale on ITV tomorrow at 7.30pm.
