REMEMBERING LEAH
A tribute to the late actress behind Dales favourite Zoe Tate…
Inside Soap was saddened to learn that ex-dales star Leah Bracknell – who played Zoe Tate on the soap from 1989 to 2005 – has passed away aged 55.
Emmerdale chiefs and cast members have led the tributes for Leah, citing her as a muchloved colleague and trailblazer for the show during the 90s.
“Leah was a hugely popular member of the Emmerdale cast for over 16 years,” said ITV drama boss John Whiston. “In that time, she featured in some of show’s most high-profile and explosive plots – and she always delivered a pitch-perfect performance.
“Zoe Tate was one of soap’s first lesbian characters, and Leah made sure that the role was both exciting and credible,” he added. “Leah herself was a very generous and caring colleague, much-loved by cast and crew alike.”
Star Claire King, who returned to the village last year as Kim Tate – aka Zoe’s wicked stepmother – wrote on Twitter: “Gorgeous, beautiful, talented, lovely Leah, fly high over that rainbow, my love.” Meanwhile, fellow cast mate Mark Charnock – aka Marlon – among others, paid tribute, adding: “We’ve lost one of the truly good humans. Being around Leah always made the day better.”
Zoe opened up to her father Frank about her sexuality in 1993, making her the first lesbian character in a British soap. Plots that followed included an affair with Charity, whom Zoe later testified against in court after Chris Tate framed Charity for his murder. Leah also won critical acclaim for the storyline that saw Zoe diagnosed with schizophrenia, with the character later giving birth to her baby daughter, Jean. The star’s stellar performances won her the Inside
Soap Award for Best Actress in 2003, before she went on to clinch Best Exit for Zoe’s Dales departure at the British Soap Awards in 2006.
After being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2016, Leah made a handful of TV appearances while investigating alternative treatments abroad. More than 2,500 fans raised £50,000 to help pay for the star’s medical care in Germany, although Leah revealed in August that it had stopped working.
“Leah continued to embrace life and faced her illness with positivity,” said her manager in a statement following her death. “Her family would like to thank the public for all their support and generosity.”