Charlie Hardwick became "very defensive" and "sulky" when she discovered her ‘Emmerdale’ character was being killed off.
The 58-year-old star portrayed Val Pollard on the ITV soap from 2004 to 2015, and while she wanted to leave the programme to taste new challenges, she was disappointed show bosses opted to bump her alter-ego off.
She said: "When I found out they were going to kill her I was absolutely devastated.
"I wanted to leave. I played her for so long and I wanted her to go off and find Amy somewhere and live in Ireland until the sun sets.
"But no, she was killed. I got very defensive about it and a bit sulky and huffy, and then I pulled myself together."
Despite the initial "shock", Charlie accepted it was right for her character to meet her maker – which occurred when a shard of glass fell on her as she lay injured in a Hall of Mirrors following a helicopter crash in the village – because the soap is "all about storytelling".
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’, she added: "It was a shock but it’s always the case. If they are going to find a better story for you as an out that way then … because it’s all about storytelling and that’s what you’re signing for."
Charlie recently admitted she found it "tiring" shooting 12 episodes a week on ‘Emmerdale’.
Speaking about her new role on ‘Ackley Bridge’, she said: "I am happy for the slower pace. It’s measured. There’s a single camera so there’s time to rehearse, time to discuss how you should do the shots.
"It’s proper film making. It gives you the time to do the work to the best of your ability.
"At ‘Emmerdale’ sometimes you’d be filming 12 episodes a week. It was tiring."
Charlie Hardwick’s ‘sulky’ Emmerdale end
