5 hours Ago By Emmanuella Ngimbi,Laura Carreno
Before ruffling feathers as Ruby Fox-Miligan in Emmerdale , Beth Cordingly was widely recognised for her role as PC Kerry Young in the iconic police series The Bill. The Bill boasted an impressively lengthy tenure on ITV, after debuting in 1983 and concluding in 2010. Cordingly became part of the cast in 2002, quickly winning over viewers' hearts.
However, her journey on the show came to a dramatic end after just two years when her character fell victim to the Sunhill Sniper. Kerry's enduring appeal even led to a dedicated hour-long spin-off titled Kerry's Story on ITV3. However, when fans encountered Cordingly outside of her on-screen appearances, their awkward remarks often focused on her physique.
"Back when I was on The Bill, the first thing people would say to me was 'you’re much thinner in real life,'" reflects Beth. The star pointed out that resilience is essential in the acting world: "But as an actor, you've got to have thick skin; you wouldn't survive otherwise." Having dealt with people-pleasing tendencies, Beth has fought to distance herself from societal expectations, particularly those imposed on women in showbiz.
“As an actor, you can feel it very strongly,” she asserted, reports the Mirror . At 48, Beth proudly lives in alignment with her true self, as she admitted: "I can be too loud or different, but I've realised I don't have to care so much about what people think of me - and, as it turns out, they actually like me." Post-The Bill days saw Cordingly venture into new acting territories she re-emerged on television in 2006 as Connie Green in Heartbeat and then in EastEnders in 2017, where she portrayed Shirley Carter's fellow inmate.
Two decades after her memorable portrayal of the troubled Sara Warrington in Family Affairs, Beth Cordingly has returned to the small screen as Ruby Fox-Miligan in Emmerdale . The actress joined the Yorkshire-set soap in January 2024 and quickly won over viewers, earning the Best Newcomer accolade at the TV Choice Awards just last month. Reflecting on her character Ruby, she says: "It felt like Sara but 20 years on.
It's a gift of a part." A year into her role, Beth concurs, lauding the show's streamlined production and supportive crew. "The crew is incredible," she enthused.
"It's like swans gliding on water - everything appears calm, but underneath, there's a flurry of hard work. And yet, there's never any panic." Working alongside partner Ian Kelsey has been a game-changer for Beth, particularly when honing Ruby's pivotal scenes with the Dingles.
"He worked with me on the script," she reveals. "Because we both really enjoy working on things together. To be in a relationship with someone who you can do this with, it's really special.
I'm very lucky." Speaking on Ruby's latest plotline, which unveiled her abusive on-screen father Anthony (played by Nicholas Day) as her daughter Steph's (Georgia Day) biological dad, resonated deeply with Beth. The actress told the publication: "It's a subject that I feel really really passionate about and always have, I was really pleased to be taking on that story.
" Beth's heartfelt portrayal has struck a chord with her followers although she initially faced criticism for her character's tough exterior, she witnessed a shift in how viewers perceive her. "A lot of people contacted me and said: 'I hated you when you first came in but I've fallen in love with her because I understand why she's like this,'" Beth recounts..
