Shocking Truth Behind Tracy’s Real Life – A Famous Sister, a Public Romance, and Private Pain
Emmerdale star Amy Walsh, who plays Tracy Robinson on the ITV soap, has had a busy few weeks as her character is at the centre of a huge murder investigation
Inside Emmerdale Tracy actress’ life from pop star sister to struggles with famous husband
Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh has been at the heart of a gripping murder plot in the Dales, with her character Tracy Robinson embroiled in a major investigation.
Soap aficionados are on the edge of their seats as villain John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) murdered Tracy’s other half, Nate (Jurell Carter), following last year’s catastrophic barn blaze.
In a revealing flashback, viewers saw John administer an injection to Nate under the guise of “saving” him, only for Nate to suffer a fatal reaction to the drug.
John then chillingly transported Nate’s body to a bridge and dumped the shrouded remains into the lake, the same site as the infamous limo crash.
Amy has played Tracy for years(Image: ITV)
More than eight months after the fire, the police have fished out Nate’s body from the lake, pinpointing two prime suspects, reports Leicestershire Live.
Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was first in the frame due to a fiery row with his son on his last day around, but suspicion has shifted.
Tracy became the focus of the investigation when John sneakily hid Nate’s mobile in her daughter Frankie’s (Eden Ratcliffe-Knights) playhouse.
The drama peaked when Tracy got nicked for murder on Thursday (June 12), as her sister Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) couldn’t vouch for her whereabouts on that fateful night.
While the on-screen drama unfolds, here’s the lowdown on actress Amy’s life off-screen.
Star-studded lineage.
She has a famous sister
Born in March 1987 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Amy is the youngest of four, with two siblings also shining under the showbiz spotlight.
One of her siblings, Kimberley Walsh, is a member of the cherished British girl band, Girls Aloud.
In the previous year, Kimberley, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts made a triumphant return to the stage after an 11-year hiatus for a reunion tour.
The comeback tour was a heartfelt tribute to their late bandmate, Sarah Harding, who tragically passed away in 2021 following a battle with advanced breast cancer. Amy was a regular attendee at the tour, sharing numerous snaps and clips from the audience.
However, Kimberley isn’t Amy’s only famous sister. Her other sibling, Sally, notably starred in Emmerdale years before Amy did, playing the mischievous Lyn Hutchinson from 1997 until 2000.
Parenting challenges.
Amy is married to an EastEnders star
Amy publicly confirmed her relationship with EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith back in 2020. Toby is best known for his portrayal of the villainous Gray Atkins, a role he played from 2019 until 2022.
Amy and Toby announced their engagement in 2022, before exchanging vows in August 2023.
A year prior to their wedding, Amy gave birth to their daughter, Bonnie Mae. The Emmerdale actress was overjoyed to fall pregnant so swiftly after being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome at the tender age of 20.
During a guest appearance on Lorraine, Amy candidly discussed the difficulties of juggling parenting duties while working full-time on the ITV soap.
“I went full throttle into a massive storyline. I barely saw either of them. And then he [Toby] flew to Bulgaria for a film. It’s constantly like that. It is a struggle,” she confessed.
“I don’t have family around me to help. It’s tricky, but you do it.”
Career.
Amy has appeared in Emmerdale for over a decade
In addition to her role on Emmerdale, Amy has graced the screen in Hollyoaks Later as Jennifique McQueen, and the short film Past Memoirs.
In 2014, she competed alongside her sister Kimberley in All Star Family Fortunes, and notably reached the final of Celebrity MasterChef in 2023.
During her tenure on Emmerdale, Amy has been involved in several unforgettable storylines. Besides Nate’s murder, Tracy weathered the death of her father, Frank Clayton (Michael Praed), and embarked on an affair with Caleb Milligan (William Ash).
Since joining the ITV soap, Amy has received numerous nominations for her portrayal of Tracy.
She was nominated for Serial Drama Performance at the 25th National Television Awards, as well as Best Actress at the 2021 Inside Soap Awards and Best Soap Performance at the I Talk Telly Awards the same year.
