You Ask: Sally Dexter (Faith)
Chas and Cain might not be pleased to have mum Faith back in their lives – but we can’t get enough of her! And 56-year-old actress Sally can’t get enough of your questions…
“Did you watch your first episode of Emmerdale when it went out?”
I’m normally peeking at myself from behind a cushion; it’s never easy to watch yourself, it really isn’t. Me and my mum spent most of the first episode squeaking at each other down the phone – we couldn’t quite believe it. I have to say, I’m very grateful for the clever hair and make-up people here!
“I read your mum is a big Emmerdale fan, so what does she make of Faith?”
She tells me Faith’s a bit naughty, which of course she is, and she loves her clothes. She keeps saying to me, “Why can’t you dress like that in real life?”! My mother really does love the show, and I think she’s got a bit of a soft spot for Robert. I’ve not been able to bring her to the studios for a visit yet, but she’ll be up soon.
“What’s the best thing about being mum to Chas and Cain?”
It has to be Chas and Cain themselves. They’re both legends. I first met Jeff Hordley [Cain] when I came up for one of my auditions, and we did a scene together in the Woolpack. He was so kind and courteous, and did everything to make me feel at ease. I was thinking, ‘Yeah,
I’m going to enjoy bullying you!’.
“What’s the most glamorous event you’ve ever attended?”
Oh my word! I remember we had a gala performance of Shakespeare’s Antony And Cleopatra at the National Theatre back in the 1980s – Anthony Hopkins and Dame Judi Dench were in it. That was pretty damn glamorous! We all had dinner on the stage, and they served up salmon en croute covered in gold leaf. You could see people wondering whether to steal it or eat it! I ate mine.
“I saw you in the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever [in the West End from 2012 to 2013]. What was that like?”
It was an absolute hoot. I loved singing those songs, and I still remember all the words – how can you forget a Spice Girls tune? I also worked with Bill Ward [who went on to play James Barton] on
“What’s the best thing about being Chas’ mum?”
“What was it like being in the the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever?”
“Having starred as Mrs Chynoweth in Poldark, can you tell us a secret about filming?” …asks reader Allie Smith, via email
that show – our characters were at loggerheads. A nicer man you couldn’t hope to meet, so it was a shame that he left Emmerdale as I arrived.
“Who would you like Faith to have a village romance with?”
There’s quite a few to choose from, it has to be said. But they’d need gumption. I’d personally like Faith to start at one end of the village and work her way through! But it might be nice for her to find more of a genuine sort of relationship with somebody who could keep her in the style to which she’s become accustomed, but look after her at the same time. I don’t think
I’m allowed to say who that might be just yet, so we’ll wait and see…
“Do you enjoy social media?”
I’m terrified of it! Anything else that’s scary I’m quite happy to leap into, but I’m being a bit of a nana about Twitter and all that. No offence to nanas, since of course I play a great-grandma in Emmerdale – something my mother finds hilarious!
“You grew up in Yorkshire, didn’t you? Where would you recommend to visit?”
Scarborough and Whitby are lovely, then on into the Wolds and the Dales. Yorkshire was a great place to grow up. It’s lovely to be back, but I’ve been too busy slaving over a hot Woolpack bar to get out and about! “Do you mind being recognised? Where’s the most surprising place it’s happened?” It’s been a delight being recognised since I joined Emmerdale – everyone is lovely, and they take it all with a pinch of salt, which I really like. The most unexpected place was when I walked into an estate agent’s recently. But Faith There are hot water bottles under the petticoats! It could get very cold. I remember the first time we all sat round for a read-through of the scripts, and there was such a feeling of excitement – it was so beautifully written. And of course filming in Cornwall is just extraordinary. dresses well, whereas because I spend most of my time travelling round on my bike, I look like Mrs Scraggy. People burst out laughing when they see me! “Do you have a secret talent?”
I’m a mean penny whistle player! I also love playing the guitar, and the descant recorder. I’d love to be in a band, but there’s not much call for recorder players in bands these days. Maybe I could get The Woolpackers started up again? You betcha! I’ll be straight into that. What a good idea…