Emmerdale star Sammy Winward in profile: ‘Secret’ marriage to childhood sweetheart and rumoured ‘feud’ with teenage daughter
Her life isn’t as dramatic as alter ego Katie Sugden’s was, but there are some similarities!
Sammy Winward played Katie Sugden in Emmerdale for almost 15 years. She’s got a grown-up daughter, an impressive acting CV, and she’s not yet 40!
Her life isn’t as dramatic as alter ego Katie’s was, but there are some similarities! Here’s her story.
Sammy’s early years
Emmerdale star Sammy Winward was born in Bolton and started acting as a child. She won the role of Katie Addyman in Emmerdale when she was just 15.
Katie Sugden’s dramatic years in Emmerdale
Katie Addyman first appeared on screen back in 2001. She and Andy Sugden hit it off and fell in love. They even moved in together when they were just 17. But things got tricky and Katie ended up having an affair with Andy’s brother, Robert.
Katie and Robert got engaged but he cheated with Sadie King, and Katie left the village for a while.
In real life, Sammy was pregnant with her daughter, and was off on maternity leave!
Back to the village for Emmerdale star Sammy Winward
A few months later after being involved in a car accident, Katie came back to Emmerdale. The crash killed her dad and the hospital called Andy as her next of kin.
Katie and Andy tried to make their marriage work but Andy eventually cheated with Jo Stiles and they parted.
When Katie offered to be a surrogate for Grayson and Perdita Hyde-Sinclair, she didn’t realise how unstable their marriage was until it was too late and she was pregnant. After a lot of drama, Katie gave the baby boy to Perdita.
Katie married Declan Macey but their marriage was rocky from the start and when Declan covered up the discovery of a body on his land, Katie left him.
Andy again
More ups and downs followed, until eventually Katie and Andy reconciled and got married again. But Robert was back in the village and with the brothers’ feud reignited, Katie was on a mission to discover who Robert was having an affair with.
When she found Robert and Aaron kissing, the secret was out! Katie took a photo on her phone and when Aaron left, she confronted Robert.
He turned aggressive trying to get Katie’s phone and when she lunged at him, he shoved her and she fell through the floor and died. Robert told Aaron it was an accident and the pair covered up the crime.
What is Emmerdale star Sammy Winward doing now?
Sammy appeared in Prey alongside Philip Glenister in 2015, and a film called Lies We Tell in 2017. In 2019 she appeared in short film Lead Belly alongside Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas.
After a break from acting, during which she worked as a teacher, last year she played Sonia Sutcliffe – Peter Sutcliffe’s wife – in the ITV drama about the Yorkshire Ripper, The Long Shadow.
Is Sammy Winward married?
Sammy was engaged to former Blackburn Rovers player David Dunn. They have a daughter called Mia, who is now . The couple split just two months after Mia’s birth.
In 2017, Sammy married her childhood sweetheart Martyn Hardy. The pair had dated as teens and rekindled their romance later in life. Sammy didn’t reveal she had wed until four years after their big day. She shared a photo on her Instagram feed and wrote: “Six years today since I got engaged to the love of my life, four years married, 24 years of friendship and still going strong. Here’s to 24+ more.”
Fans were stunned as they didn’t even realise she had a boyfriend, let alone a husband! “Well done for being able to keep it private,” one commented on the post.
Sammy Winward reportedly in feud with daughter
Recent reports suggest there is a bit of a family rift between Mia and her parents. Back in the summer, Mia told The Sun her mum and dad don’t approve of her posting content to OnlyFans.
Speaking of her mum, Mia claimed: “She said some pretty mean things when we did last speak, it was awful. But I absolutely love my mum, I love all of my family but none of them speak to me now.
“I will always love and appreciate them. I hope that one day we can rebuild our relationship and move on.”
Although Sammy has not commented on the interview, back in 2021, she told Loose Women how she and Mia were like “best friends”.
Sammy said: “I always thought, ‘Oh my god I’m only going to be 36/37 when she is 18. And I’m nearly there now. It’s just crazy because we just feel like best mates really.
“Obviously there is the mother and daughter relationship but we’re more like best mates,” she added.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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