Amy Walsh had to make "some really bold decisions" for her postnatal depression storyline.
Amy Walsh
The 'Emmerdale' star's character Tracy Metcalfe is at the centre of the hard-hitting plot, and she admitted filming has been "really tough".
She told Inside Soap magazine: "We haven't been allowed to have any babies on set, so we've just had jelly dolls, and that's been really tough. It's quite complex to film.
"I had a day full of heavy scenes, just me and the baby, and when you're talking to a doll you don't know if you're going to get there, emotionally.
"I was quite nervous about that and how far to push it - I had to make some really bold decisions so that I believed it myself.
"But I really enjoyed it in the end, and I felt very connected to the scenes. So hopefully it will move people watching at home..."
Meanwhile, Kate - who, along with Dales co-star Michelle Hardwick, welcomed baby boy Edward into the world in October - explained that her research for the role took a couple of different forms.
She added: "I've witnessed many of my close friends and family go through pregnancy, labour and motherhood - but I also considered it really important for me to do my own external research, so that I could do it justice for everyone who has been through it.
"There's so much shame and secrecy about postnatal depression: new mothers are often scared of saying what they're really thinking, because they fear they're not good enough to look after their baby."
The ITV soap have teamed up with charity APNI (The Association For Post Natal Illness) to work on the plot, which show bosses hope will "offer comfort" for those going through a similar experience in real life.
Speaking in a Q&A earlier this month, producer Kate Brooks told BANG Showbiz: "It’s a really sad statistic but up to one in every 10 women will develop postnatal depression within the first 12 months of having a baby.
"So this is an important and all to relatable story to tell. This storyline will be hard to watch at times but ultimately it’s a story about love and hope.
"And we do hope it offers comfort to those going through a very similar experience. It's a very important story to tell for 'Emmerdale' and one we’ve taken care to ensure we’re hitting the correct tone as we tell the story and as the story develops."