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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Ryan Paton

Emmerdale Belle Dingle actress' age, cancer heartache and co-star who loves her forever

Eden Taylor-Draper is one of Emmerdale's most beloved stars.

The soap actress joined the cast of the long-running ITV show as Belle Dingle in 2005. She was aged just seven years old when she took over the role from Emily Mather.

Eden immediately left an impression on the programme as she took home a British Soap Award for Spectacular Scene of the Year in just her second year for the storyline where Daz and Belle fell down a mineshaft. The star hasn't looked back since and Emmerdale fans have followed her dramatic journey to adulthood as a member of one of TV's most turbulent families.

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October was a dramatic month in the fictional Yorkshire village as Emmerdale celebrated its 50th anniversary in style. A ferocious storm ripped through the village and Belle lost two fellow Dingles as Liv and Faith were both killed off.

The drama didn't stop there as the month culminated with a dramatic shootout that led to the death of Al Chapman. Al was played by Michael Wildman and Eden took to Instagram to issue a touching tribute to her departing co-star.

She said: "My favourite man [tearing-up emoji]". Eden enjoys a close bond with her stars away from the screen.

She celebrated her 25th birthday at the end of last month and Isobel Steele, who played Liv, took to social media to mark the special day. She shared a of Eden alongside the caption: "Happy birthday horse whisperer. Love you forever."

Isobel Steele wished Eden Taylor Draper a happy birthday (instagram/@isobelsteelee)

Belle was not one of the casualties last month and her dramatic time in the fictional village looks set to continue as the show explores the fallout from Chas Dingle's affair with Al.

Away from the screen, Eden shares regular updates from her life away from showbiz. The actress was hit with heartache four years ago when her younger sister Francesca was diagnosed with cancer when she was aged just 14.

Eden told The Mirror how she discovered news of the devastating diagnosis while on the set of Emmerdale. She said: "When I came off set for my tea break, Dad called and it was such a blur. I felt like someone had ripped my stomach out and I broke down.

She added: "I was with Issy Hodgins, who plays Victoria [Sugden], when I got the call, and she just held me for ages. I couldn’t go back to do my next scene. But Emmerdale were so supportive and let me go see Chess at Leeds General hospital straight away."

Francesca had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and went through four rounds of chemotherapy, contracting potentially-deadly sepsis at one point - but she responded well to treatment. Francesca had intensive treatment until December 2018 and started maintenance chemotherapy the following month.

Francesca would attend the treatment once a month and take chemo tablets every day. Eden was written out of Emmerdale for a month so she could spend time with her sister and visited her in hospital several times a week.

She said: "Chessie had her bed and I had a little bed next to her. Mornings would be a snuggle, cup of tea and re-runs of Come Dine with Me.

"I tried to keep Chess as cosy as possible. We’d always say love you before bed, and that everything would be okay."

Francesca completed her A Levels earlier this year and Eden issued a proud message to celebrate her achievements. She said: "So proud of you bestie."

Eden is part of a close family unit and also has sisters Pollyanna, Posy, and brother Sebastian - as well as Francesca. Since 2016, she has been in a relationship with boyfriend Ed Lewis and regularly posts loved-up pictures on Instagram.

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