Amy Walsh has opened up about her experience when trying to find a perfect wedding dress for her character, Tracy Metcalfe in the much-loved soap Emmerdale.
The star, whose character will tie the knot later this year, revealed the various dilemmas she faced reports the Mirror.
She said: "I literally had just chosen my wedding dress before I found out I was marrying in the show."
Speaking to mark her return to work as Tracy Metcalfe after 18 months’ maternity leave, adding: "My biggest fear was what if I found a dress that I’d prefer to my own one when we went shopping for my character?
“I kept averting my eye as we looked on the rails. In the end, we’ve gone for quite a nice dress for Tracy rather than anything tacky but thankfully I am still happy with the one I’ve chosen for my own wedding!”
The actress explained it was only a fortnight before returning to the hit ITV1 soap that she had finally found her dream design for her wedding to former EastEnders actor Toby Alexander-Smith.
The couple will get hitched abroad later this year, with their one-year-old daughter Bonnie playing a key role.
The 36-year-old is hoping for a stress-free big day for her wedding - however, the same cannot be said for her character’s mystery wedding.
In true Emmerdale style, things go South when Moira and Cain spot Tracy back in the Dales after 18 months away.
Previously in the show, Tracy ran off with daughter Frankie, who she shares with Nate Robinson, but now suddenly returns standing in a wedding dress outside a registry office with an attractive man.
“The scenes at the wedding are farcical,” explains Amy. “Nothing goes plain sailing.
“Viewers will be left wondering if she is, indeed, marrying this man or not at all. We had a lot of fun filming the scenes though and it’s great to finally be back in Emmerdale.”
She smiles as she adds: “Hopefully my own wedding won’t be as chaotic as this soap one!”
The actress and bride-to-be commended the entire cast has been incredibly welcoming since she returned.
She already returned briefly for the soap’s 50th birthday celebrations last autumn and so it wasn’t quite as intimidating as it could have been.
Amy says: “I absolutely love being a mum to Bonnie and it’s been amazing spending time with her. I love it and I could literally spend all day with her, every day! But it was time to come back and the fact I’d already dipped my toes back in last year made it less daunting.”
Adjusting to her new work juggle has, however, been a huge learning curve.
The pair have now relocated back to Leeds from London, where they had spent her maternity leave so they could be closer to her family, including her Girls Aloud star sister Kimberley Walsh.
And she admits like any new mum, she has found it tough combining her roles.
“It was great to be near to my family as we are very close and they are all obsessed with Bonnie,” she explains.
“But I knew it wouldn’t make me happy if I was constantly on a train commuting from London. So, we are back in Leeds now. It’s great though as it means I can finish work and get home quickly to have lots of cuddles with Bonnie.
“I’ve been back at work for about four weeks and I am just trying to get used to everything.
“I’ve soon learnt you are not only spinning plates physically but also mentally. I’ve got so much respect for every working mum. I don’t know how everyone does it, but I am slowly getting there!”
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