Amy Walsh “cried a few times” when she returned to ‘Emmerdale’ after maternity leave.
Amy Walsh got emotional returning to Emmerdale after having a baby
The 36-year-old actress felt like she had “never been away” after welcoming her first daughter Bonnie, 18 months, with her ex ‘EastEnders’ star fiancé Toby-Alexander Smith - who played Gray Atkins on the BBC One series - because of the close bond she has with everyone on set who helped her with her transition back to play Tracy Metcalfe.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I just feel like I’ve come back and never been away. It just feels so normal for me to be here. I said to my mum a couple of days in, I was like,’ I’ve never felt more at home than I have there. I feel so comfortable here, and it’s felt the same’.
"The hair and make-up team are like sisters to me. I’ve cried a few times in the make up chair out of pure exhaustion or dropping my child off at nursery. I went in in tears, and they were like, we won’t do your face first, we’ll do your hair.
"We’re all good friends but when you’re away, you’re busy with your child, and people are busy with their jobs, but then it reminds you how close you are. I feel like me again. It’s nice to have the time when you’re at work and remember the friendships."
Amy - who been in the soap since 2014 - admitted she used to complain “about being tired” before motherhood but it's at another level now.
She said: "I thought I used to be tired, I always complained about being tired before, but now I’m like, how am I doing this? It’s hard, I’m not gonna lie, but that’s because my child isn’t sleeping at the moment.
"Just the hours you’re here, you leave at seven, and then you’re back in the building at seven. You’ve got to bath and bed your child and then make your dinner and then do your lines for the next day, talk to your other half and then get back and go again."