‘My sons will be able to follow their dreams’
Emmerdale’s Charley Webb talks about life with three boys, her hopes for the future and educating her family on the impact of climate change
Catching up with Charley Webb over the phone, we can hear the pride and happiness in her voice as she speaks about her eldest son, Buster, who’s 11. The 33-year-old and her hubby Matthew Wolfenden’s firstborn has recently started secondary school, and the Emmerdale actress is clearly full of joy at the milestone.
“I just feel like I woke up one day and he was in high school. It feels like we sent him to reception last week, it’s crazy,” she says.
Co-stars Charley, who plays Debbie Dingle in the soap, and Matthew, 41, married in 2018 and also have two other sons, Bowie, five, and two-year-old Ace.
Here, she talks about being more sustainable as a family and how she would feel if Buster wanted to follow in her showbiz footsteps…
Hi Charley! How is Buster settling in at school?
He’s taking it in his stride, but it’s a huge change. The primary school that he went to, which is where Bowie goes now, is gorgeous. It’s such a nurturing environment, so for him to suddenly go to high school, he’s become a mini adult overnight.
I think we forget he’s only 11, he’s still a baby really.
He’s getting a lot of praise online for his singing…
I think that’s the line he wants to go down and it has been since he was a tiny tot. He was singing at two or three, and could really hold a tune. We’d think,“Oh my God, where have you learnt to do that?”But it’s just naturally in him. He goes to singing lessons and he also does drama and dance so he’s definitely got it in him – it’s in his blood.
What do you think of him possibly following you and Matthew into the entertainment industry?
I’ve always been very honest with him that it’s not an easy industry and it’s not the industry I would choose for my children. But at the same time you have to let them do what they want. If he wanted to be a doctor, I’d support him. I can’t just say,“I don’t want you to do that,” because it’s not my decision. We just have to guide him. It was in my blood. I’ve known I wanted to be an actress since I was eight, so it would be cruel to not let him follow his dreams.
Do you think Bowie and Ace will follow suit?
Bowie’s not interested in acting, singing or dancing. He’s
quite shy. He’s very funny, but he is shy in front of a few people. Ace is too young for us to know, but they’re all great. My house is very loud. I go to their friends’ houses and they’re much more controlled than mine.
How is Bowie getting on?
He’s just gone into year one – he’s making his little friendships and it’s good for him.The social side is amazing for them and they need that as children.
You’re supporting McDonald’s’ Plan For Change campaign. Why is it so important to you?
I have three young children, so for me it’s all about their future and their children’s futures, so it’s important that we teach them the little changes that they can make. As adults, we sometimes find the conversation around climate change quite complicated, so we tend to
‘Children are the ones who can make a real difference’
keep it among ourselves. But it’s so important to involve the children, as they’re the ones who can help make a real difference.
It can be difficult to know where to start…
The campaign is about simplifying the science as, if we don’t understand something, we shy away from it – but we need to educate ourselves. I’ve been guilty of that in the past. I look at something and have no idea what it is so just put it to the back of my mind, but the McDonald’s campaign is all about helping to simplify those big words that we don’t know.The Climate Clarity Guide breaks it down and explains what each thing means – for adults and children. I’ve learnt so much since I started working with them.
What changes have you made in your own daily life?
It’s just about making little changes.Turning lights off as you walk around the house, that sort of thing. But there is so much we can be doing and if children can be educated now then in the future it’ll be second nature to them and everyone will be doing their bit to help.