EXCLUSIVE: ITV Emmerdale Belle Dingle actress reveals her mum proposed to her dad – just like her character
Teenage soap star Eden Draper-Taylor has ruled out popping the question to her boyfriend one day, despite her Emmerdale character Belle Dingle and her real-life mother breaking tradition and getting down on one knee
Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle actress Eden Draper-Taylor rules out proposing to her boyfriend
As Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle ties the knot with Tom King tomorrow night in an hour-long special, Eden Draper-Taylor insists she won’t be following in her character’s footsteps.
Eden, who joined the ITV soap 18 years ago to play Belle when she was eight, has just moved in with Ed Lewis, who she has been dating since 2016. Her 108,000 Instagram followers get regular updates on the happy couple’s travels – to places including Austria, Italy and Croatia.
But she reveals that her mum is more like Belle – who asked Tom (James Chase) to marry her at Christmas – when it comes to popping the question. Eden, 26, says: “My boyfriend and I are happy. We live together now and he is very supportive of my role in Emmerdale. Stereotypically, it’s the guy who tends to get down on one knee and getting married is all Belle has ever wanted, which is why she proposed.
The Emmerdale actress recently moved in with her boyfriend (
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But the young soap star won’t be getting down on one knee like her on-screen character
“But no, I won’t be proposing if I ever marry – even though my mum did!” She explains: “Dad kept asking mum for ages to marry him, but she kept saying ‘no, not yet’. Then, when she realised he had stopped asking her, she was like ‘oh no, what do I do?’ So, she asked him on New Year’s Eve. It was so cool that she did.”
Like her parents – and the Dingles – Eden, who is one of five children, would love a big family one day. She says: “I am one of five and I love it. I love the chaos!” Since taking over the role of Belle from twins Emily and James Mather in 2005, Eden has been at the heart of lots of big storylines.
In 2014, Belle accidentally killed her best friend, Gemma Andrews, during a row over a boy. After serving time for manslaughter, she suffered mental health problems and later became a successful businesswoman. And in tonight’s wedding – which will, in true soap style, run far from smoothly – there will be signs of darker times ahead.
Tom’s controlling behaviour will start to rear its ugly head with Belle, at one point, even wondering whether he will turn up to their wedding. Viewers first caught a glimpse of Tom’s nature last November when he angrily pushed Belle to the ground in a rage, an incident she kept secret from her family.
And on her wedding day, it becomes clear he has no qualms about trying to emotionally manipulate her again. Eden says: “A lot happens at the reception. I won’t say what, but I think that does change things a bit, as she can tell he’s getting annoyed about little things.
“I think she is just saying to herself ‘it is fine, it’s fine,’ and then, right at the end of the day, something happens that just makes her think, ‘have I done the right thing? Is this the right man for me?’” Eden, who is reticent when it comes to revealing more about her real-life boyfriend, is far more candid when she talks about the sub-zero conditions she endured filming the wedding.
Emmerdale fans will see Belle walk down the aisle on Thursday night, but will she tie the knot?
She says: “It was minus two in the village and so, under my wedding dress, I had Ugg boots on the whole day and heat packs all down my back! But it was fun filming the wedding and picking a wedding dress out for Belle.”
Now one of the soap’s longest-serving stars, despite being so young, Emmerdale feels like part of her DNA. And she is incredibly proud of it winning Best Soap in this week’s TV Choice Awards. “It means the world,” she beams. “It’s lovely recognition. I’m so grateful to be part of a wonderful show. I’m also so chuffed that Jeff Hordley won Best Soap Actor. It couldn’t have gone to a better man.”
The joyful news is especially welcome so soon after the death of Steve Halliwell, who played her screen dad Zak Dingle, in December. Eden says: “Steve really was like a second dad to me. I looked up to him in so many ways – his heart, his talent, his hilarious storytelling. I feel blessed to have had him in my life and will cherish our memories.”
And, while many child actors feel they missed out on a normal childhood, she says: “I wouldn’t change things for the world. I definitely don’t think I missed out. It’s not a normal way to grow up, but I still got to see my friends and I made new friends at Emmerdale. It made me mature quicker as you are surrounded by adults. I feel blessed to have grown up at Emmerdale.”
In real life, Eden enjoys hiking in the Yorkshire Dales, as well as working as an Ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust, after seeing how much the charity helped her family. Five years ago, her younger sister, Francesca, now 19, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and endured months of chemotherapy. She is now in remission.
Eden says: “The charity did so much for us as a family, so to be involved with it now is lovely.” Meanwhile, her fans will be pleased to hear she has no plans to abandon playing Belle any time soon. “I would love to play Belle for as long as everyone would like me to,” she says. And while Belle will become Mrs King tonight, she adds: “She is very much part of the Dingle family.
“They have been through thick and thin together and everyone can relate to them – as I can too. Just like the Dingles, my family is big, people scream at each other but at the same time, we all love each other. I can’t wait to see where the soap will take me with Belle.”
Citing some character traits she shares with Belle, she says: “We are both very family orientated and we share some of the same core values.” Bursting into laughter, she adds: “But we are different. I’ve not accidentally killed my best friend, for one!”
- Watch Belle’s Emmerdale wedding in an hour-long episode tomorrow night on ITV1 and STV at 7.30pm.