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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jasmine Allday

Emmerdale star was rejected from two roles on ITV soap before bagging part

Emmerdale's Laura Norton was rejected for two parts on the ITV soap - before bagging her current role.

Actress Laura, who plays Kerry Wyatt on the programme, has confessed she auditioned for two different parts first before she managed to secure a role as the "good-time girl with a tough upbringing" after producers saw something in her.

On the ITV soap, Kerry is dating Al Chapman - who is currently having an affair with Chas Dingle - but she had to wait over a year to bag herself that role, as she had previously auditioned to play Ali Spencer or Ruby Haswell.

Laura plays Kerry (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Speaking to Inside Soap, she said: "Me and my family had always watched Emmerdale and I'd auditioned before – however, it hadn't worked out, so I thought that ship had sailed.

"The casting director said I wasn't quite right for either, but a year later they called me in for Kerry. I was the first person they saw out of about 40. It was meant to be."

The roles of Ali and Ruby eventually went to Kelli Hollis and Alicya Eyo, and Laura joined a year later as Kerry.

She was rejected from two roles before bagging the part (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"I love her. She's a tart with a heart, a bit of a train wreck, a good-time girl who had a tough upbringing, so there's a lot of baggage and vulnerability," Laura said of her character as she teased more drama ahead on the Dales.

The soap is airing a big storyline for Kerry and Al, as he and Chas embark on a steamy affair.

Speaking about the scenes, actress Lucy Pargeter - who plays Chas - said: "I can’t justify it in any way, having sex with someone else. I can only explain it by saying that instead of Chas going to the gym, she’s going to Al.

Al and Chas have been having an affair (ITV)

"It’s that emotional release you get from going to the gym or going for a run; she’s having that moment of no responsibility to take her out of all the hell she’s in, in her head.

"There are no feelings, no love, no particular affection. It’s a momentary endorphin release. She's definitely using him at the moment. He has no reason to use her - he’s got Kerry. There’s no ulterior motive with him."

*Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV, with an hour long episode on Thursdays.

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