Her character Tracy Metcalfe is currently embroiled in a postnatal depression storyline on Emmerdale.
And Amy Walsh reflected on the responsibility she feels to ‘tell it right’ on the soap while discussing Tracy’s struggle on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women.
The actress, 34, admitted she has worked with a number of women who have gone through the same things as her character, and will often refer to her notes from her time with them to ensure she’s doing it justice.
‘I’ve got to tell it right’: Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh reflected on her ‘responsibility’ to give a realistic portrayal of postnatal depression on the soap while on Wednesday’s Loose Women
Amy explained: ‘It’s such a responsibility, we’ve spoken to case studies directly, I had the real honour of speaking to women who have been through it directly and they’ve given me their stories, given our script supervisors/writers their stories.
‘I’ve got to tell them right, so often I’m questioning things and making sure it’s right and double checking my notes from them that I’m playing it right and yea I just want to do it justice.’
Tracy’s storyline has been ongoing on the soap for quite some time now, and Amy claimed she preferred it that way and was ‘glad’ it would be drawn out.
Taking their time: Tracy’s storyline has been ongoing on the soap for quite some time now, and Amy claimed she preferred it that way and was ‘glad’ it would be drawn out’
Responsibility: Amy has worked with a number of women who have gone through the same things as her character, and will often refer to her notes to ensure she’s doing it justice
She reflected: ‘I’m so glad about that, often you get pitched an idea and it can come and go in an episode.
‘But, I felt lucky to do the build-up of the pregnancy, the labour and this postnatal depression storyline is so important. This can take 12 months to show after giving birth for some women.’
Panellist Denise Welch, who herself had postnatal depression and has spoken openly about it in the past, praised Amy for her portrayal of the mental illness and said soaps are the best place to examine such topics.
Glad: Amy explained: ‘I had the real honour of speaking to women who have been through it directly and they’ve given me their stories, given our script supervisors/writers their stories’
Careful: Amy added, ‘I’ve got to tell them right, so often I’m questioning things and making sure it’s right and double checking my notes from them that I’m playing it right’
In response the actress said: ‘Thank you, I think that’s such a valid point because it just reminds us just how important soaps are.
‘We’re so used to seeing people with the perfect life and the perfect story on social media, we know it’s not real but it feels like it is.’
Postnatal depression is a form of the mental-health condition that affects more than one in 10 women in the UK and US within a year of giving birth.
Kind words: Panellist Denise Welch, who herself had postnatal depression and has spoken openly about it in the past, praised Amy for her portrayal of the mental illness
Doing it justice: Amy added, ‘It just reminds us just how important soaps are. We’re so used to seeing people with the perfect life and the perfect story on social media, we know it’s not real’
Many parents feel down, teary and anxious within the first two weeks of having a child, which is often called the ‘baby blues’.
But if symptoms start later or last longer, they may be suffering from postnatal depression.
READ RELATED: 'Relieved' mother-of-two, 31, celebrates getting her driving licence after SEVENTEEN tests
She also discussed how her sisters Kimberley and Sally also gave her insight into the role with their experiences of having children.
Amy told the panel: ‘I think I’ve been surrounded by people having kids for what feels like forever, my eldest nephew is ten so I’ve witnessed a lot and I really do find that helps my research.
‘You can read and read but witnessing it and seeing how it affects those you love, tiny nuances, like in the show when she’s sore from breastfeeding and being so annoyed with how the baby wants more.’
When asked about Kimberley’s current pregnancy, she said: ‘Yea both sisters, we all had a bump at some way or another, be it fake or real for a short period!’
Family: Amy also discussed how her sisters Kimberley (pictured) and Sally also gave her insight into the role with their experiences of having children
Helpful: Amy told the panel: ‘I think I’ve been surrounded by people having kids for what feels like forever… and I really do find that helps my research’ (pictured with her sisters in 2009)
Source: Daily Mail
