| Amy Wyatt | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmerdale character | |||||
| Portrayed by | Chelsea Halfpenny | ||||
| Introduced by | Gavin Blyth | ||||
| Duration | 2010— | ||||
| First appearance | 8 October 2010 | ||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||
| Profile | |||||
| Date of birth | 27 June 1994 | ||||
| Home | The Grange B&B | ||||
| Occupation | The Grange B&B employee Leyla's Shop assistant |
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Amy Wyatt is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Chelsea Halfpenny. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 October 2010. Since her inception Amy has been central to main storylines and has been played as the serial's rebellious teenager. Halfpenny has said she enjoys playing the character's mischievous side. Amy's unstable upbringing in children's homes and foster care has impacted on her persona. She is a troubled character and protects herself by creating a hard exterior around herself. Amy's biggest fear is embarrassment and she aspires to lead a normal family life with her foster parents Val and Eric Pollard. As her storylines have developed she has grown close to the pair, yet rebelled at various stages in her duration. Charlie Hardwick and Chris Chittell who play Val and Eric have expressed their delight with the positive impact Amy has had on their on-screen family. She has a kooky style and wears heavy make-up.
Other stories for the character include blackmail, one night stands, heavy drinking and robberies. In 2011, the programme's series producer Stuart Blackburn devised a storyline to help viewers relate to Amy more. It began when Amy discovers she is pregnant with the serial's villain Cain Dingle. As the narrative progresses, Amy becomes ostracised as the fear of losing her new found family increases. Amy has received mixed reviews from critics. Jane Simon from the Daily Mail said her first scenes resembled a horror movie, while her colleague Jaci Stephen has opined that Amy wears too much make-up. However, entertainment website Digital Spy has favoured many of her storylines. Halfpenny has been nominated for three "Best Newcomer" awards for her portrayal of Amy.
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| “ | Amy's edgy, sassy, and exudes a wisdom beyond her years, which is just as well as she likes everyone to believe she's 19. She's not had an easy start at life, having been bounced around from foster home to foster home, but she seems to have found a kindred spirit in Val. A quick learner and an instinctive judge of character, Amy will not hesitate to exploit her looks to get what she wants but at times can veer between the woman she wants to be and the young girl she still is. | ” |
Series producer Gavin Blyth first mentioned Amy's arrival in June 2010. He said the characters of Val (Charlie Hardwick) and Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) faced a "fascinating future" with the arrival of a "fresh-faced stranger who takes a shine to the pair."[2] Amy debuted on-screen on the 8 October 2010 when she found herself stranded outside the village.[3] She later moves in with Val and Eric and attempts to rebuild her life.
Amy is a troubled character with a mischievous personality. As Amy grew up in care it shows in her persona. Though it is often hard for people to understand why she acts wayward, she also has the vulnerability factor.[4] Halfpenny said she likes Amy's mischievous side and hoped she would not learn to be sensible. Halfpenny also felt it was important that Amy stayed remained youthful because she disliked portrayals of teenagers growing up to quickly. She found it easy to portray a character younger than herself as she could base aspects of Amy's story on her own teenage experience.[5] At times she is scared she puts on a "hard exterior".[6] Amy has a distinct style, Halfpenny described it as being quite "out there" in her choice of clothing and make-up.[5] Halfpenny said that viewers would not be getting used to Amy's "nice side" and reminded them that she is good at "lying and scheming". She concluded that Amy's bad side was due to resurface.[7]
"Underneath it all, Amy has a good heart. She could be a very nice girl if she was shown some real love and had some proper friends."[8]
After Val and Eric foster Amy, she starts acting rebellious again. She starts drinking and throwing herself at men, forcing her foster parents to have second thoughts.[8] Halfpenny told Inside Soap that Amy goes off the rails because she is convinced everything goes wrong in her life. "She's afraid of getting hurt, so she spoils things for herself before anyone else can get there first." Halfpenny explained that Val's parental approach compared to Eric's was contrasting. Eric had not been around when his son David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) grew up, Halfpenny said this factor meant that Eric is not tolerant with Amy's bad behaviour. Though, Val had brought up her own children, her approach towards Amy is "light-hearted."[8] However, when Amy continues her alcohol binges, Val and Eric feel she has "gone too far" and "question their ability to cope with her." Served with an ultimatum, the character of Amy has to endure changes to remain with her new family. Halfpenny claimed the main change she had to make was "to keep her tongue in her own mouth and cool it down with the boys."[8]
Off-screen Wolfenden, Hardwick and Chittel were thrilled by Amy's inclusion. Wolfenden said Halfpenny's acting skill had "freshened the whole place up."[9] In comparison, David was initially hostile to Amy's inclusion in his family.[8] However, in one storyline his attitude towards her softens and results in Amy developing feelings for him.[10] Wolfenden said David "has a soft spot for Amy" and flirted with her. Over time he began to see her as his "little sister." When David's girlfriend, Leyla Harding (Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi) accuses Amy of stealing from the shop, David proves her innocence by exposing Alicia Gallagher (Natalie Anderson) as the thief.[11] Wolfenden added that David has given out the wrong signals and acted naive during the story arc.[10] Wolfenden explained that Amy misreads the signs because "she never had that sort of affection when she was growing up." Amy kisses David which shocks him, though Wolfenden felt it should not surprise him. Amy lies to her best friend Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins), claiming she has slept with him and runs away from home.[10]
Halfpenny revealed that Amy genuinely liked David and thought the feeling was mutual. "She wouldn't do it to embarrass herself; i think that is one of Amy's biggest fears being embarrassed."[12] When David tracks Amy down; she blackmails him in return for the truth. Though, David exposes her to Eric. Halfpenny said Amy was hurt by David's deception because she trusted him and despite their problems had a "good relationship". Eric tries to convince Amy to return home to lead the life she had always wanted, because "deep down he really cares about her." The strict parenting role is played once again with Eric, Halfpenny branded the moment as Amy "meeting her match." As "nothing is straight forward with Amy", she returns home but finds telling the truth hard.[12] Amy settles into village life until Jared Haynes (Philip Hill-Pearson) arrives and blackmails Amy. An Emmerdale spokesperson revealed that Amy had an affair with Jared's father and ruined his family. "She’s got herself in a mess and this is just the start of her problems."[13] Amy steals from Val and Eric to pay Jared off. At this point in the story Val and Eric "are sick of Amy's bad behaviour." Val refuses to give her any more help.[14]
"Amy's easily swayed. Because of how badly Cain reacts she thinks the best option is to get rid of the baby. On the day, she just wants to get it over with. [...] She sees the ultrasound scan of the baby and realises she doesn't want to get rid of it. Because Amy hasn't had love in her life she doesn't want to do that to anybody else."[15]
Amy's role in the serial increased with her much publicised pregnancy storyline. The plot begins when Amy has a "fling" with the programme's villain Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).[16] Halfpenny said "It's Amy who takes the lead and it goes from there."[17] While, Hordley explained that Amy's attention inflates Cain's ego and he thinks "'aye, aye'. It's still young but in his book, he's like, 'wahey, I've still got it'." However, when he learns she is sixteen, "he feels incredibly stupid and "embarrassed." Cain shows no guilt and orders her to keep her distance.[16] Halfpenny said Amy is not fazed by Cain's attitude and uses the situation to make David jealous.[17]
In August 2011, Amy discovers she is pregnant and is left in a state of shock.[15] With the storyline Halfpenny received her busiest filming schedules since she started filming.[18] Halfpenny told What's on TV that "it couldn't have come at a worse time" because Amy is on her final chance with Val and Eric. Cain is unsympathetic, angry - while Amy is scared.[15] Hordley said Cain wants to keep it "low-key - to get rid and then move on."[19] He attempts to force her to abort the baby. Amy agrees because she isn't "very bright" and thinks it will be the "easier option."[20] When she sees her ultrasound scan, Amy cannot go ahead with the abortion due to her own upbringing. Amy's left in a terrified frame of mind when Victoria tells her about Cain's violent past.[15]
As the storyline developed, it held the potential to ruin the positive changes that the character had achieved. Halfpenny said Amy had become really close to Val and Eric. They are in a "good place" and they think "Amy's all happy." The one person she wants to tell is Val, with whom she shares the closest bond and it makes her "gutted" to remain silent.[21] It prevents them from having a normal parent/child relationship, as the truth would ruin her one last chance.[20] Halfpenny said her portrayal turns Amy to a "dark place" as she is "too young to be coping with something like this." As Amy becomes preoccupied with fear in case Cain finds out, Halfpenny said it makes Amy do "something dangerous."[22] Though, Amy has Victoria to fall back on and is described as "her rock".[14] Emmerdale series producer Stuart Blackburn said the storyline would change the lives of a lot of people around Amy. At time he said the narrative is "truly heart breaking" and dangerous. "I think it's going to change perceptions of Amy [...] we’re going to start to understand Amy an awful lot more."[23]
Amy's car breaks down outside the village and Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) stops to offer his help. Amy pretends to be pregnant; though Andy is aware she is lying he takes her to the local garage. While her car is being serviced, Amy checks into the B&B where she meets Val and Eric. Amy pretends to be a trainee nurse to secure a discount; however, Victoria forces the truth from her. Amy reveals she is actually sixteen years old and has run away from foster care. Victoria attempts to sneak Amy out without paying but Val catches her. She offers to pay her debt by working in the B&B. The police arrive and inform Val that Amy has stolen her foster parent’s car and Amy is taken away by a social worker.
Victoria stays in contact with Amy, she later runs away from foster care again. Victoria lets her hide out in the basement of the B&B, until Val discovers her. Val initially lets her stay, but Eric forces her to leave. Amy visits Val once again and informs her that her foster parents have separated and she is moving back to a care home. Amy locks herself in a bathroom and workers at the care home telephone Val, claiming she will not resurface until Val arrives. Val arranges for Amy to stay at the B&B and later foster her. Amy starts working at the shop for Leyla and develops feelings for David, who pays her attention. Amy begins sleeps with Cain and attempts to use the fact to make David jealous. He shows concern over her behaviour. When Alicia steals five hundred pounds worth of stock, Leyla accuses Amy. David is quick to defend Amy and Alicia later admits her guilt. Amy kisses David on the cheek for his support. She thinks he reacts positively and makes further advances towards him. Amy runs away after David rejects her. When she arrives home she blackmails David and tells Victoria she has slept with him. Later everyone finds out that Amy has lied.
Amy, Val and Eric move into their new home at the barn conversion. Though, her happiness is short-lived as a man from her past Jared arrives to see her. He proceeds to blackmail Amy and Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) intervenes when he thinks something is not right. Amy reveals that she has previously carried out bad deeds and makes Zak promise to remain quiet. She then starts handing money over to Jared. Jared later reveals Amy had an affair with his father resulting in the br eakdown of his family. Zak forces Jared to leave Amy alone for good. Amy then discovers that she is pregnant with Cain's baby. She tells Cain, who threatens to harm her is she does not have an abortion. Victoria convinces Amy to tell Val the truth. Amy decides to have an abortion, but she is told her pregnancy is too far along to have the procedure. The doctor also reveals her baby is due in December. She later threatens Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) to keep her pregnancy a secret from Cain. Amy goes into labour and gives birth to a baby boy in the church graveyard. She believes her baby is dead, when he does not move or make a sound. Amy panics and wraps him up in her jumper, before placing him in a telephone box. She then goes to David and tells him what happened. David learns the baby has been found and taken to hospital, he then calls an ambulance for Amy. Amy is not happy when she discovers David has also called Eric and Val. At the hospital she apologises to Eric and Val for keeping her pregnancy a secret.
In 2011 Halfpenny was nominated in the category of "Best Soap Newcomer" at the TV Choice Awards.[24] She was later nominated in the category of "Best Newcomer" at the Inside Soap Awards.[25] She was later nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 2012 National Television Awards.[26] Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror said Amy's first scenes resembled the start of a "teen horror movie."[3] Inside Soap described Amy stating: "To survive in soapland you need attitude - and Amy Wyatt isn't lacking in that department."[8]
Jaci Stephen of the Daily Mail has criticised Amy for the amount of make-up she wears.[27] When Leyla accused her of thieving, Stephen said it couldn't of been her because she wears too much eye make-up. She jibed "she's lucky she can find one foot in front of the other."[28] When Amy is unsure whether or not to abort her baby, Stephen jested her first decision should be whether to change her mascara - "I’ve seen less fuel-faced coal miners."[27] Stephen opined that it was obvious David was heading for trouble with "gratingly Geordie Amy." She said she had no sympathy for him because he knowingly walked into Amy's "maelstrom of rampant teen hormones."[29] Entertainment website Digital Spy have chosen certain plots featuring Amy in their "Picture of the day" recommendation feature. These include Amy being accused of thieving, blackmailing David and revealing her pregnancy to Cain.[30][31][32]
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