Emmerdale star Emma Atkins: Award winner, kids and love of nature (2025)

Emma Atkins is best known for playing Emmerdale troublemaker Charity Dingle. The actress joined the cast in 2000, and has been involved in several high-profile storylines.

Charity is legendary for her illegal scams, multiple affairs, being framed for murder and ending up behind bars.

The character of Charity is also best known for her on/off fiery romance with cousin Cain, who’s often acted as her partner in crime.

She’s been married four times and has as many children. Charity is also an accidental murderer after taking the life of gangster Damon Harris, who was holding her husband, Mackenzie Boyd hostage.

In comparison, actress Emma’s life is far less chaotic. Here’s everything we know about her.

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins: Award winner, kids and love of nature (1)

Who is Emma Atkins?

Emma Atkins is a British actress who plays Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle. She made her first appearance on the soap back in March 2000.

Actress Suranne Jones also auditioned for the part of Charity. She went on to play Karen McDonald in Coronation Street.

How old is Emma Atkins?

Emma Atkins was born on 31 March 1975, making her 48-years-old. She grew up in the small village of Silverdale in Lancashire.

Emma’s mother worked in Wakefield Prison and her sister Jillian Atkins is a fashion designer.

After school, Emma went to study at the University of Salford then pursued a career in acting.

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins: Award winner, kids and love of nature (2)

Emma Atkins as Charity Dingle in Emmerdale

Emma plays Charity Dingle – the irrepressible landlady of The Woolpack.

She’s been married four times, and her current husband is Mackenzie Boyd, aka Mack.

Charity has four biological children – daughter Debbie Dingle, and sons Ryan Stocks, Noah Dingle and Moses Dingle. She also has an adopted son, Johnny, from her relationship with his mum, Vanessa Woodfield.

Charity is a true survivor.

Following the death of her mother by suicide when she was just a child, Charity ended up living on the streets and fell into prostitution.

At the age of 14, Charity was raped by police officer Mark Bails, the product of which was her son Ryan. She believed Ryan had died at birth, but years later found out he had survived and was adopted by the midwife Irene Stocks.

When Bails came back on the scene, Charity bravely managed to have him convicted and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Charity has recently been in the grips of PSTD, after shooting dangerous criminal Harry dead while trying to protect Mack.

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Emma Atkins, award winner

Emma has been nominated for numerous awards over the years – including Best Actress at the British Soap Awards and Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards.

She’s scooped the Best Actress gong at the TV Choice Awards, Inside Soap Awards and Daily Star Soap Awards.

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins: Award winner, kids and love of nature (4)

What else has Emma Atkins been in?

Emma is of course most recognised as Emmerdale’s Charity.

She’s also featured in episodes of BBC series Dalziel and Pascoe, Mayo, I’m with Stupid, New Street Law, Doctors and Casualty.

In 2008, she starred in the seventeenth series of Heartbeat, playing the part of Lesley Ashton.

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Emma Atkins’ Emmerdale exit

Emma announced she was leaving Emmerdale in 2004 to explore other opportunities.

She worked as a jobbing actress for the next five years before announcing her return to soap in March 2009.

Emma took a second, but shorter, break in 2015 after giving birth to her son, Albert.

She’s a real-life mum

Emma is a proud mum of one to her son, Albert. The actress kept her pregnancy a secret from viewers at the time.

Emmerdale bosses cleverly wrote Charity’s stint in prison to coincide with Emma’s maternity leave.

The actress welcomed her baby boy just before her 40th birthday in March 2015. She called Albert “the best present” in an interview with The Sun.

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Emma keeps her personal life private

Emma is in a long-term relationship with her partner, Tom. The actress’s other-half isn’t famous and is reported to be a businessman.

The couple have made a red carpet appearance together, but on the whole Emma prefers to keep her life away from the spotlight.

She chooses not to share snaps of either Tom or their son, Albert on social media.

On Emma’s Instagram – followers will instead find a stunning array of arty outdoors shots (mainly trees) from her walks in nature.

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins: Award winner, kids and love of nature (2025)
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