It is no secret among Emmerdale devotees that life in the Dales is rarely tranquil, particularly for the Dingle family. Natalie J. Robb plays Moira Dingle, a farmer’s wife who moved to the hamlet in 2009, and she has since been at the center of several dramatic incidents.
These include having an intense relationship with the village’s troublemaker, Cain Dingle, played by Jeff Hordley, and marrying him later, as well as giving birth in a burning barn.
Actress Natalie, who is from Bellshill, Glasgow, has a different life away from the set. Fans of soap operas could be surprised by several facets of her life, such as a romance with a castmate and a part in a rival soap opera.
Secret co-star romance
Emmerdale’s Moira has had a very tumultuous love life, and it appears that some romantic sparks were flying off-screen as well. The 48-year-old Natalie and her Emmerdale co-star Jonny McPherson, who plays Dr. Liam Cavanagh, began to develop love feelings for one another while on a charity trip to Lapland in 2019.
So much so that they kissed in January 2020. They had no idea what special difficulties their developing connection would face.
After everything went into lockdown in March of that year, forcing the newly in love couple to make a difficult choice. In November 2020, Jonny, who is 41 years old, talked about how their relationship started with the Mirror and said, “Like many couples, we faced a choice. Yes, confinement hastened the development of our relationship because we opted to live together.
They initially tried to keep their growing connection a secret, but it became clear when they both joined a Zoom call to honor co-star Liam Fox’s 50th birthday. Jonny emphasized their close relationship, saying, “We have a terrific rapport. Despite having different upbringings, we have a lot in common. Both of us have a fun, youthful side, and we have remarkably similar senses of humor.
Despite surviving lockdown together, Natalie and Jonny decided to call it quits in 2021. However, they continue to get along and are friends. Jonny acknowledged that he had moved on and started a new relationship in May, but he chose to remain mum about his girlfriend’s identity. Jonny said in an interview with OK! Magazine, “I’m in a relationship with someone who is fantastic. Since we’ve been dating for a while, I actually feel content.
Natalie’s journey in soaps
Although Natalie is most known for playing Moira, Emmerdale was not her first exposure to soap operas. In fact, astute viewers would recall that she previously appeared in EastEnders. She appeared in three episodes of EastEnders in 2006 as Gemma Clewes, a character who was associated with the womanizing Max Branning (played by Jake Wood).
Over the years, Natalie has played parts in a number of classic television programs, including Waterloo Road, The Bill, Where The Heart Is, and Holby City. She has pursued a music career in addition to her acting career. She was a member of the band The Kinky and even collaborated with the dance group Partizan to produce the song “Keep Your Love” in 1997.
More about Natalie J. Robb
An actress and singer from Scotland is named Natalie J. Robb. She had prominent roles as Jude Carlyle in the BBC soap opera Doctors from 2001 to 2004 and as Trish McDonald in the Scottish Television drama series Take the High Road from 1990 to 1999. She has been portraying Moira Barton in the ITV serial drama Emmerdale since 2009. Her performances on television also include The Bill from 2004 to 2005 and Dream Team from 2000 to 2001.
Natalie J. Robb, who was born on December 3, 1974, is the youngest of three children; her brother and sister are both older. She engaged in weekend playgroups in Glasgow when she was young, and director Alan Macmillan saw her. She then signed up for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Robb additionally played in a group called The Kinky People.