Isabel Hodgins, who has played Victoria Sugden on Emmerdale for nearly 20 years, has revealed she felt 'ready' to leave the soap as she prepares for the birth of her first child. The 32-year-old actress filmed her final scenes earlier this year, with her character Victoria confessing to the murder of her long-lost brother John Sugden.
Hodgins admitted she expected to be emotional on her last day but found herself exhausted rather than tearful. 'I thought I would be really emotional when I filmed my final scenes. Emmerdale is all I have ever known. But pregnancy does funny things to you and the truth is I felt ready not to have to film on Emmerdale,' she told The Sun.
The actress, who lives in Manchester and commuted to Leeds for filming, said the daily travel took its toll. 'By the end, I felt exhausted and I knew it was time to have a rest before the baby arrives. It suddenly feels very real now,' she added.
Hodgins and her husband Adam Whitehead, a PE teacher, are expecting their first child together. The couple, who met at the gym, had been trying for a baby but admitted it happened faster than anticipated. 'It's exciting but also scary, because it has happened so fast and it's our first time,' she said.
In the soap, Victoria killed John Sugden with a syringe she found in his pocket, unaware of its lethal contents. After fleeing, she confessed to Robert and Aaron Dingle, who helped cover up the crime. However, a witness saw the murder, setting up a future storyline. Hodgins confirmed that Emmerdale bosses have left the door open for her return, telling her it is 'up to me when I come back'.
