Natalie has had more than her fair share of troubles on Emmerdale but says when she gets home to her two-year-old son, Freddie, her soap worries are soon forgotten.
Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has faced the toughest scenes of her life as sexual assault victim Alicia.
But they brought her recognition at the British Soap Awards and being mum to son Freddie, age 2, eased the agonies of gruelling filming days.
“That was the best thing,” Natalie, who got a Best Actress nomination, told The Sunday Post.
“When I walk in, crying, with mascara down my face, he’s right there saying, ‘Mummy I want you’.
“He’s got me playing trains or whatever and there’s no time for dwelling on anything.
“When I go home I’m a mum and wife to Freddie and my husband James.”
Bubbly mum Alicia was attacked by 14-year-old Lachlan (Thomas White) and struggled in the aftermath with some thinking she may have led him on with her skimpy outfits.
“I felt a huge responsibility,” confides Natalie, 33.
“We were the first soap doing this pre-watershed involving a minor and it was important to get it right.
“That was scary and I was very nervous but I was excited and relished the challenge too.”
Natalie says it was a storyline decision not taken lightly and one she was consulted about every step of the way.
“Our producer Kate, discussed the idea and asked what my feelings were.
“And when it came to filming the scenes, there was so much discussion and lots of meetings to make sure Thomas and I were happy.
“We were really looked after and on the day we filmed the assault, I felt really spoiled.
“I was supported by every single person and Tom was too. We were really protected.”
Natalie has nothing but praise for her young co-star, just 16 in real life.
She says his grown-up attitude and the professional manner he took made her life so much easier.
“It’s a huge thing for him to be the first person in a soap to have that kind of a storyline as a young actor,” says Natalie.
“But he was brilliant. He relished the challenge and what’s lovely was the public’s response.
“The majority have said, ‘Tell that young lad what a great actor he is” as opposed to confusing him with Lachlan.”
While the portrayal was gruelling, Natalia did have some previous professional experience.
Before joining Emmerdale in 2010 she was best known for ITV’s ’60s-set medical favourite The Royal.
Her nurse Stella Davenport was raped after leaving a fancy dress party in a revealing outfit.
“I had a bit of an idea of what I was doing because I did so much research when I was in The Royal,” she explains.
“This was a different story, Alicia’s story. But in one sense there were similarities in Alicia wondering whether she had brought it on herself.
“That was very much an attitude they had in the ’60s as well.”
Alicia has had more than her share of soapy troubles “she’s been shot, assaulted, divorced twice” reels off Natalie and it’s hardly surprising that a fresh start is on her mind.
She has been toying with a move to Portugal and is furious this week when Leyla tries to change Jacob’s mind about the move.
“She thinks life is too short and wants to take her family and seize this opportunity.
“But she has huge ties to the village, with her sister there, and things never run smoothly for Alicia so we’ll just have to see whether it pans out.”
Natalie, who appeared on Pop Idol, says her musical love is another way of easing tough days at work.
“Singing is so emotional for me,” she adds. “I sing all the time and it works as stress relief.”
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