Lisa Riley: My big fat Dales wedding
As her on-screen wedding day approaches, Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley talks challenging storylines and missing her family…
We all love a soap wedding… and right now, Lisa Riley’s character Mandy Dingle is preparing for a belter. With Mandy’s fiancé, Paul, continuing to terrorise her son, Vinny – though Vinny is close to telling police that Paul has beaten him up – everything comes to a head on what should be the happiest day of Mandy’s life!
Here, the 44-year-old tells us why she has zero regrets – and why her late mum, Cath, who died of cancer in 2012, is her biggest inspiration – but she’s tight-lipped on any wedding plans of her own…
Lisa, how’s life been lately, do you feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel?
Yes, I do. I cried when my Dad had the vaccine – that’s all the medicine I need. With his type 2 diabetes and heart problems, it’s a relief. Everyone knows Dad is just my world. The only thing he needs in life is his grandchildren. It’s personally killing me as well, having not seen my niece and nephews since Christmas. FaceTime is great, but it’s not the same, is it? It’s got to the stage when every day, you just think – when is this going to be over? Surely, we’re getting closer now… I don’t want to miss out on any more family birthdays.
What about Mandy in Emmerdale? It’s all going on!
It’s a really monumental time for all of us – actors and crew. Mandy’s dress itself is probably going to go down in soap history! We couldn’t do anything subtle. It’s third time lucky for her. When she married Paddy, she had the traditional white wedding, with the veil and corset. When she married Butch (for money!) she had the dress off the rail from Debenhams. This time, the dress is by far the best thing I’ve ever worn! Ian, our designer, has gone beyond brilliance. My stilettoes are more sparkly than the Strictly glitterball. People have even been going up to my Dad on his dog walks, asking what my dress is like – you’d think I was a royal bride!
Has it been fun to film?
Oh yeah. We have the amazing hen party dressed as Bananarama. We were filming this storyline over five weeks, and I remember saying that we have the craziest jobs – one minute we’re singing to Bananarama (comedy at its finest) and then the next day I am hysterically crying from the disaster of it all. There’s not an emotion that Mandy Dingle doesn’t feel.
As Lisa, what would you say to Mandy?
You just want to ‘mother’ Vinny, don’t you? As we get closer to everything coming out of the woodwork she thinks she’s living her happily ever after. She’s wearing those rose-tinted glasses 24/7 and she’s not removing them. I’d say – ‘girlfriend, take those glasses off!’ She’s desperate to have this perfect family unit – but perfect doesn’t exist in Mandy Dingle.
That snap you shared on Instagram of your messy dressing room was hilarious!
Oh, they’re calling me the bag lady! Pre-Covid, whenever there’s a wedding taking place in a soap, the bride gets their allocated dresser and room. I didn’t have any of that! It
was just Lisa on her own with plenty of bags and a trolly being taught how to do my own hair and make-up. I was so proud of myself, actually!
Stepping away from the Dales, it’s been quite a year. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt about yourself in this pandemic?
People have always said I’m a good shoulder to cry on and a fab listener and it’s made me even more aware that you have to be there for people. I might not have spoken to a friend for three months but just that one text or email means the world. I’m worried about my friends in the industry that are out of work. I’m very aware that I am one of the lucky ones, going to a job every day that I adore – but there’s so many whose lives have crumbled. I want to care for them and be a good blanket.
Talking of friends, which women shaped your life?
Well, my mum was my ultimate hero and I miss her every day. I posted on Instagram about my awe of working mums. The pride I have. Bear in mind, I’m not a mum, but because of that, I observe a lot – I feel so inspired, especially after the year they have had, it’s made me feel so much admiration for any woman with a child. No one has a silver spoon in life as a working mum. I dedicated International Women’s Day recently to them.
Now restrictions are slowly lifting – what’s the first thing you’ll do?
My partner, Al, and I had to cancel our holiday plans – we were supposed to be going to America in May, but obviously that’s been called off. So, no vacation abroad this year, that I know of. I would have thought we’ll end up doing a staycation in Scotland if we’re allowed – in an ideal world!
What are your hopes for the rest of 2021?
Well, I’m really hoping with my birthday being in July that the family will be able to get together! My brother’s got a really big garden so I’m just praying for sunshine and that it will all go ahead. Can you imagine what a lovely birthday that would be? Being in our own little simple world, but actually being physically together. This pandemic really puts things into perspective. The only gift I want is to see my niece Everlyn and nephews Jakey and Josh.
Emmerdale, ITV, weekdays at 7pm with an extra episode Thursday at 8pm.