Bad girl Victoria says 'I do' to Emmerdale return

Jun 1 2008 By Steve Hendry

Victoria Hawkins always knew she would be back on Emmerdale - the only question is for how long.

She is returning to the Dales as the newlydemure Sharon Lambert for a starring role in helping mark the soap's 5000th episode.

It's a major role but the 25-year-old Newcastle lass hopes her performance will merit a longer and more permanent return because she hates the uncertainty of coming and going.

She said: "I kind of always knew I would be back because there was unfinished business within the family for Sharon.

"But I'll be honest, it's really hard to leave and get over the fact you have done something like Emmerdale to then come back and leave again.

"You are just getting back in the swing of things, getting in with all your mates again...then you realise you are off next Wednesday or whenever.

"I don't think you always realise what you have got until you leave."

It's a harsh reality of life in showbusiness which Victoria, who starred in long-running kids show Byker Grove and drama Steel River Blues, admits she sometimes can do without.

She's just quit London after five months in the capital because she is sick of worrying how she is going to pay her bills every month.

She said: "I could have stayed if I had financial security but I don't - and I don't think it's worth having panic attacks every month thinking, 'How am I going to pay my rent?' "It's so expensive to live there. It's completely different from up north.

"And I've found no difference living there from travelling down from up north, in terms of the auditions I get. I worked out what I was paying in rent, as opposed to what it would cost in train tickets to get down for auditions.

"I miss my friends and my family and I've got a younger brother and sister who I'm really close to.

"I just thought life is too short to be away missing people because anything could happen. So I'm going to go home.

"If it gets to the point that the amount of auditions I'm getting is out-weighing what I am paying in rent then I would go back. I did really enjoy living in London but I just can't afford it.

"And whatever money I make from Emmerdale, I want to save rather than see it go on rent. I've got better things I could be doing with it."

Before she returns home for real, Victoria will be back in Emmerdale as Sharon for the wedding of her mouthy screen mum Val Lambert (fellow Geordie Charlie Hardwick) to scheming Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell).

As it's a soap wedding, nothing quite goes to plan and it descends into mayhem.

The chastened Sharon was last seen as a bitchy, gold-digging wannabe WAG on the verge of marrying a footballer for his money. Victoria said: "Sharon's come back reformed. She's been away and realised what her mistakes are but that horrible bitch is still there under the surface.

"When I came in last time, it was for three episodes and I ended up doing another 20.

"But I thought it was right that she had to leave because she was just too tarty, it was getting ridiculous.

"It's nice to play her differently. Last time Sharon was horrible to her mother, this time she is trying to get in there because she wants to hang around.

She has had a hard time."

There is, however, a problem on the horizon in that Sharon, new image or not, has set her sights on hunky David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) - who is set to be her step-brother after Val and Pollard's marriage.

She laughed: "I think it's quite sick but hey, it's Emmerdale. Look at the Dingles!"

In real life, Victoria has been linked romantically with former Emmerdale star Ben Freeman, who played Scott Windsor until he parted company with the show to fight a rape allegation in Barbados. The trial has yet to take place.

But while she is friends with Ben, she claims there has never been any more to it.

She said: "He's a great guy and we are friends. He left just before I started but I met him through Adele Silva and we just got on right away.

"We were once pictured together on a night out - with loads of people - and there was a story we were dating but it's total nonsense. We are mates but nothing more. I went to a do with him a few weeks ago but before that I hadn't seen him for months. I am so single."

Emmerdale is a long way from Victoria's original choice of job. She wanted to be a PE teacher until she wrote to kids' show Byker Grove - which also launched the careers of Ant and Dec, Jill Halfpenny and Donna Air - asking for an audition.

She wasn't so much starstruck as hoping to earn extra pocket money.

She said: "Byker Grove was something I watched as a kid and desperately wanted to be in it but never in a million years thought I would be.

"A friend of mine at school had been an extra on it and he told me you just write in and ask...and you get paid for it.

"I thought it was brilliant because my dad wouldn't let me get a paper round. I sent a photograph and letter in asking to be an extra. I remember getting a letter through the post at Christmas 1998 and my mum and dad telling me don't be surprised if they don't have anything for you, trying to let me down gently, bless them.

"But it said they wanted me to come in for a meeting in January. My mum was drying her hair and dropped the hairdryer on the ground.

"I got offered a part when I was 15 and that's where I learned to act."

It's also where she met her Dales screen mum Charlie Hardwick. She is enjoying their reunion and hoping for another one soon.

She said: "It's back to auditioning and I can't grumble because I've been so lucky to have done what I've done so far anyway.

"I'll just enjoy my time in Emmerdale and hope I get to come back again for good. What will be will be."