Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle has had her fair share of drama since the favoured character arrived on screens in 2005 – from accidentally killing her best friend to being kidnapped. Thankfully the star that plays the troubled Dingle, Eden Taylor-Draper, has a quieter life away from the cameras but has sadly suffered tragedy over the years.
The 25-year-old captured the nation’s hearts when she joined the cast as a child almost 20 years ago and has continued to keep audiences captivated with her formidable portrayal of Belle. The actress grew up not far from where the soap is filmed in North Yorkshire, Selby.
This week in Emmerdale, Belle senses something is off with her partner, Tom King, as he appears subdued and next week learns about a shocking revelation. Away from Emmerdale, Eden also has a long-term boyfriend and has been with her partner, Ed Lewis, for seven years from the age of 18.
Eden and Ed have been together since 2016 (
Instagram)
She often shares candid snaps of the loved-up pair on her social media, showcasing their travels together, date nights, and also gushing posts to celebrate their anniversary together. Although the two are not engaged, Eden has previously hinted that a wedding would be on the cards in the future.
Alongside a photo of the pair, she captioned it: “I wanna spend my life with you.” While Eden joined the soap at the tender age of eight, her boyfriend went on to study at university, with her attending his graduation at Durham Cathedral in 2019. Sharing his achievement with fans, she captioned a sweet post with “you did it”.
Still living at home, Eden lives with her four siblings and parents. The star has previously opened up about her younger sister Francesca’s heartbreaking cancer diagnosis in 2020.
Francesca underwent intensive chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of just 14, with Eden telling The Mirror: “We’ve got such a strong, family. When our mum puts her mind to something she’s always going to do it. She said, ‘You are getting better and that’s it. We’re going to get through it”.”
Eden said she and her sister grew closer as a result of the heartbreaking experience, adding: “We’re really close but it’s definitely made our bond much stronger. From the moment Chessie was diagnosed, we’ve been speaking non-stop. From day one of this journey, Chessie’s just smashed it. Even on the bad days she’s still smiled or there’s always been a moment of happiness.
Her younger sister was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of just 14 (
swedentd/Instagram)
“When Chess went back to school, I couldn’t imagine myself in that position – balancing being a normal child and also going to hospital and my eyelashes falling out. It’s horrendous, but it’s made Chessie who she is and the way we all are now and how we think about life and love each other. I’m beyond proud.”
In September 2016, Eden, alongside her co-star Matthew Wolfenden, took part in the Great North Run to raise funds for Bloodwise. She has received immense support from her colleagues and it was while on set that she found out the shocking news.
She explained: “When I came off set for my tea break, Dad called and it was such a blur. I felt like someone had ripped my stomach out and I broke down. I was with Issy Hodgins, who plays Victoria [Sugden], when I got the call, and she just held me for ages. I couldn’t go back to do my next scene. But Emmerdale were so supportive and let me go see Chess at Leeds General hospital straight away.”
