Former glamour model Katie Price has been cited as inspiration for an Emmerdale favourite.
Natalie Anderson, 39, who played Alicia Metcalfe between 2010 and 2015, used Katie Price, 42, as a reference for her character.
"I didn't audition for my role, I knew Gavin Blyth. He was in the press department when I was working on The Royal, and Steve November, who was our producer on that,” Natalie said, during an appearance on the Soap From The Box podcast.
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"We kept in contact for a long time, and so this role came up, and he basically rang me and said: 'Will you come into the office?' So I went in on this Monday and he explained this girl to me."
Natalie admitted she was slightly intimidated by the overt nature of her Emmerdale character.
She explained: "He (Steve November) said 'the heels need to be higher than high, the skirts need to be shorter than short. She needs to have attitude. She needs to be brash. We want that kind of aggressive almost, Katie Price, brash exterior, and then we'll get to know her a bit later on’.”
"I went 'Oh, I don't think I can do this'. I think you do have to hit the ground running and it was scary for me."
Natalie explained she worked closely with the make-up and wardrobe department to ensure Alicia looked ‘as extreme as possible’. Viewers will likely remember there was lots of fake tan, hair extensions, and long nails.
Since leaving Emmerdale, Natalie, has created and fronted The Capsule podcast series which features famous faces and experts giving wellbeing advice.
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