Emmerdale legend Emma Atkins has portrayed the iconic role of Charity Dingle for over two decades, having made her debut back in 2000.
The much-loved character arrived in the village for the funeral of her cousin Butch, alongside village bad boy Cain and her uncle Shadrach and quickly became a firm favourite amongst Emmerdale fans.
Actress Emma briefly left to pursue other roles, during which time she starred in several other TV shows including the BBC series Dalziel and Pascoe, Mayo, I'm with Stupid, New Street Law, Doctors and Casualty to name a few.
READ MORE: Emmerdale's Amy Nuttall in Strictly Come Dancing talks following Helen Skelton inspiration
Emma returned to the role of Charity in 2009, later taking a short break following the birth of her son in 2015. Since joining the show Charity Dingle has become one of Emmerdale's most memorable characters.
Charity has been at the forefront of some of the show's biggest and most powerful storylines - from giving birth to daughter Debbie Dingle at just 13-years-old and being forced into child prostitution to having an affair with her husband Chris Tate's sister Zoe Tate. Charity's life has certainly been somewhat of a rollercoaster!
Currently Charity, in the midst of another major storyline as she has uncovered her new husband Mackenzie is the father of Chloe's baby son Reuben after having a one night stand.
Charity made the shock discovery after she spotted Mack visiting the baby when he was ill in hospital. She even heard her husband tell Reuben he was his dad. What happens now for the pair remains to be seen.
Thankfully, in real life the 47-year-old actress lives a much quieter and calmer life than her troubled on-screen persona. Here's everything we know about actress Emma Atkin's life away from the Dales.
Bagging iconic role and Corrie rival
Emma Atkins was actually working as a designer when she bagged the role of Charity Dingle and she hadn't even finished university.
However, the role that we can't picture anyone else in almost wasn't hers as fellow actress, Suranne Jones, who is best known for her role as Karen McDonald in Coronation Street, auditioned first.
Despite this Emma Emma found herself making her TV screen debut back in 2000 and has never looked back. Speaking to the Daily Star back in 2001, she said: ""I just thought: 'How can I play a Dingle?' If you know me you would understand that as I am so far removed from my character.
"But the more she told me the more I thought I would enjoy it, and so I went to the audition, so nervous that I can't remember a thing about it, and thought I wouldn't get it."
Whilst Emma is very different to her on-screen persona, she's never had a bad word to say about the Dingle girl, saying: "Oh, I can't slag her off, can I? I have to say that her tiny little skirts and skimpy outfits are not my cup of tea, but it's hardly a problem.
"She's a brilliant character to play, she's a character of substance. She's a b****, yes, but you can tell that there are different sides to her that we have yet to see and I hope I can stay in the show for a long time to come."
Family Life
Emma very much keeps her private life out of the spot light, the actress is not married but she does share a child with her long term partner, Tom.
The actress fell pregnant in 2014 and Emmerdale bosses wrote a storyline which saw Charity Dingle jailed for two years, allowing for maternity leave.
Emma gave birth to her son Albert on her birthday in March 2015, and described it as “the best present.” She is a regular on social media and often shares snaps with her co-stars and friends as well as her stunning photography snaps and snippets of her colourful and cosy Yorkshire home.
However, Emma rarely posts snaps of her son Albert or her partner Tom and prefers to keep that side of her life private. The actress has shared several snaps of her home, which looks cosy and homely, decorated with colourful soft furnishings, she certainly doesn't shy away from a pop of colour.
Emma's Instagram feed , which has over 174k followers, is filled with picturesque nature shots of landscapes, trees and animals around her humble abode.
It's clear from her posts that she lives a very family-orientated life with her nearest and dearest, and not forgetting her adorable black fluffy dog, who regularly features.
Wholesome Hobby
Not only is Emma a very talented actress, she is a keen photographer too. Her Instagram account is full of beautiful nature photography from her peaceful walks in the woodland.
Emma's Instagram bio reads: "Full time practitioner of kindness, happy in nature with my boys and the odd tree picture."
The actess successfully balances her calm home life and motherhood with her acting career. She once told OK!, following her maternity leave, that: “I was trying to learn my lines yesterday and Albert was really grabbing everything! It was so messy. But I have managed to balance it – I don’t know how!”
When she's not acting or taking care of her family, Emma is passionate about helping others and regularly is involved in charity work.
She once took part in a 40 mile walk in aid of Lancashire Women’s Centres, she also often talks about important topics such as mental health and regularly encourages her following to be kind.
As ever, we'll continue to bring you the big Emmerdale news about what is happening in the village and away from it. You can visit our Emmerdale homepage to find the latest gossip about the soap and its stars.
Read next:
- Emmerdale's Amy Nuttall flooded with support after split from famous husband Andrew Buchan over 'affair'
- Emmerdale fans call for character to be axed as sad exit looms
- Emmerdale's Laura Norton and Mark Jordon open up on rare genetic condition affecting both their children
-
Emmerdale and Coronation Street actor Charles Foster dies with former colleagues paying tribute
- Chance to run iconic real-life Emmerdale Woolpack pub with 'huge potential' as bosses seek new landlord
