I’M FINDING MY INNER DINGLE!

Sally Dexter reveals how she’s relished swapping the chilly glamour of Poldark for her chatty, catty role on Emmerdale

She’s won an Olivier Award, appeared with Dame Judi Dench and Sir Anthony Hopkins and starred in Poldark, but Sally Dexter reckons joining Emmerdale rivals all that – because it’s made her mother very happy. ‘She’s an avid Emmerdale fan and has always wanted me to join the cast,’ laughs Sally, who plays Faith Dingle, the estranged mother of Cain and Chas. ‘I’d be up for an Olivier and she’d say, “Can’t you get a job in Emmerdale?” After my first episode she was on the phone straight away, squeaking; she’s orbiting cloud nine! This ranks high in my achievements because it means so much to her.’

Faith, played by a different actress, was last seen in the show in 2004 when she was thwarted by Cain as she attempted to build bridges with her granddaughter Debbie. Now she’s returned having heard her greatgranddaughter Sarah is ill with cancer and is desperate to help, but Cain and Chas are still far from happy.

‘Faith hasn’t been well and has had some tragedies and money troubles that have made her want a base and a family,’ says Sally. ‘She feels guilt from walking out on Cain and Chas when they were little and wants to make it up to them. Cain thinks she’ll hurt anybody she meets, but she won’t give up trying to tell him and Chas how much she loves them. She’s misguided but has decency at her core.’

Sally’s played all kinds of characters, but says Faith could be her most enjoyable yet. ‘As a Dingle, she says it how it is and has lots of catty putdowns. She’ll have run-ins with everybody. This role gives me the chance to release my inner Dingle.’

Sally won the 1986 most promising newcomer Olivier Award after a run in a Tom Stoppard play and has since

had two more nominations; she appeared with Judi Dench and Anthony Hopkins in Antony And Cleopatra in 1987. She later starred with David Jason in A Touch Of Frost and more recently played Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs Chynoweth, in Poldark.

How does the latter – a big-budget costume drama – compare with Emmerdale? ‘Poldark’s glamour was slightly offset by the extremely cold medieval buildings,’ admits Sally. ‘We’d sit in our finery with hot water bottles up our skirts to keep ourselves warm! On Emmerdale, the workload

is enormous but the quality of writing is unbelievable. I’m impressed by how it all runs. I look at everyone and think, “Whoa, they are fantastic!” They’re a crack team; they always know what they’re doing, and the challenge is as big as anywhere I’ve worked.’

Sally may not sound it, but she is Yorkshire-born and feels she’s ‘returning to her roots’. And so despite currently living in London with her longterm partner, she says she’s considering moving north permanently. ‘Right now I’m thinking, “Bring it on!”’