Recognise Ruby’s mum in Emmerdale? Here’s where you know Sharon Maughan from – including her famous husband and soap past
She has quite the CV.
Emmerdale viewers will see Ruby’s mum Helen, played by Sharon Maughan, in tonight’s episode (Thursday December 12). She appears in flashback scenes to Ruby’s 16th birthday.
Helen was last seen on screen back in September where she appeared in two episodes. Ruby had not seen her mother in 30 years. However, when Helen was dying she wanted to reconnect with her estranged daughter before it was too late.
Here’s everything we know about Ruby and Helen’s relationship in Emmerdale as well as where you’ve seen Sharon Maughan before.
What is Helen’s story?
Ruby’s estrangement from her parents was thought to be due to their disapproval over her relationship with Caleb.
Speaking about the past, William Ash, who plays Caleb explained: “They hated him because he’d come out of a care home, he didn’t have any family and thought he was beneath their daughter. So, Helen was really snobby and judgemental. Helen and Ruby’s dad gave Ruby an ultimatum. They basically said ‘look if you want to be with this boy then we don’t want anything to do with you’. They basically just cut Ruby dead.”
It has since turned out they kicked Ruby out when she fell pregnant at 16. And now her dad Anthony is in town, fans are speculating he abused Ruby and is actually Steph’s real dad.
Back in September, Caleb visited Helen in hospital after she repeatedly called Ruby. Helen was terminally ill, but still able to put up a fight. She eventually agreed to give Caleb £100k if he got Ruby to come to see her. However, unfortunately Ruby never got the chance as her mother died before she reached the hospital.
Ruby had no idea Helen had been in contact, nor that Caleb went to see her. But all of that came out at the will reading, when Ruby realised exactly what her husband had done. It looked like their marriage was over for a while, but Caleb begged and Ruby forgave again. But she will always wonder exactly what her mother had to say to her before she died.
It also turned out Caleb and Ruby’s estranged daughter, Steph, had been in touch with her grandma. Helen left everything to her in her will.
What else has Sharon Maughan been in?
The 74-year-old actress definitely has longevity on her side and has been acting since the early 1970s.
Depending on your era, there are various things you could know Sharon from. One of her most famous gigs was as part of the Gold Blend couple alongside Anthony Head in the 1980s.
She has had a steady flow of work and appeared in episodes of many a TV show, including The Enigma Files, Dombey & Son, Inspector Morse, Murder She Wrote, Heartbeat and The Bill.
Her biggest job saw her star in over 100 episodes of hospital soap Holby City, where she played staff nurse Tricia Williams in the early 2000s, who was the mum of popular character Chrissie.
Tricia survived breast cancer, only to be involved in a car crash. Her family had opposing views on what to do, but ultimately they decided to switch off her life support machine.
Famous family
Her name doesn’t give it away, but Sharon Maughan has a famous husband – she is married to legendary actor Trevor Eve.
Most recently, you’d have seen Trevor in crime drama Unforgotten and spy drama Strike Back, but his most famous role came in Waking the Dead, where he played Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd throughout it’s nine-series run.
Sharon and Trevor married in 1980 and have three children together, one of whom, Alice, has also gone into acting.
In 2010, Trevor, Sharon and Alice all appeared in the film She’s Out of My League playing father, mother and daughter.
That’s one talented family!
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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