Gracing our screens as feisty Mandy Dingle for almost 30 years, Lisa Riley portrays one of Emmerdale’s longest-running and best-loved characters. And as she prepares to celebrate the impressive milestone, the bubbly actress also reveals exclusively to OK! that, following the devastating death of her friend and Strictly partner Robin Windsor last year, she’s been going to therapy – something she didn’t do when she lost her beloved mother Cath to secondary breast cancer in 2012, at just 58.
Lisa – an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, with whom she has recorded a moving podcast – has been told she may carry an altered BRCA gene, which can increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Although she admits she’s “petrified” of the disease that took her mother, the 48-year-old is on a mission to keep the conversation around breast cancer going all year round. Here, she also opens up exclusively to OK! about life with US musician Al and the poignant reason she’ll never tie the knot…
Hi, Lisa. How important was it to team up with Breast Cancer Now?
We have Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October but it should be a constant chat. Then obviously we did Chas’s storyline last year [Lisa’s Emmerdale character was involved in a moving storyline when Chas Dingle, played by Lucy Pargeter, found a lump in her breast]. It had fans in tears. And the topic is in people’s houses Monday to Friday. I’ll go to a nail bar to get my nails done and everyone’s talking about Chas’s storyline. That constant awareness helps.
Chas’s cancer storyline was powerful…
Oh soaps aren’t just soaps, are they? The response to Marlon’s stroke storyline was enormous, the same for Paddy’s suicide attempt. And with Chas being my close cousin, doing the breast cancer story, I had people coming up to me in the street, saying, ‘Thank you so much.’ If we’re showing mammograms and smears on Emmerdale, hopefully, it can help to save lives.
When was your last mammogram?
I had my mammogram a few days ago. I have one every year, for my own peace of mind. I’m 49 in July, so there are changes in my body. Anything that’s a change, I automatically think, ‘God, is it my time?’ because of mum dying so young, and getting to 48, as she was when she was first diagnosed, has been so surreal. I’m self checking, going for mammograms, but, yeah, I’m absolutely petrified. But I won’t live on what I call ‘The Green Mile of life’. You can’t live like that.
How do you feel about genetic testing?
I don’t want it. I’ve been told I should, but I don’t want a black cloud hanging over me. Can you imagine that umbrella of doom? Anything could happen to us, just walking across the road. I prefer to live my life and be vigilant. I live a very healthy life, now. I haven’t had a drink for nearly 10 years.
How did losing your mum change you?
Mum went way before her time. I had to grow up really quickly. When I lost her, it blew my mind, because I had to do everything on my own and in this industry, it’s hard. I realised she was more than my backbone with my career, she was more than my mother, my best friend. All whoosh, gone overnight. All of a sudden, I had to swim on my own. But she taught me to be strong. She gave me that fire.
There are moments when I go, ‘Mum, what would you do now? Please give me a sign.’ I still talk to her endlessly. People can say it’s mumbo jumbo. But fundamentally, if it works for you, long may that work. I see feathers. If I smell Chanel perfume, it’s like she’s in the room. I’m still very confident, but I’ve lost a little bit of that now she’s gone. People are very quick to judge and say, ‘It’s so many years now, pull your socks up.’ I find that ludicrous. Grief is an endless pain – you just learn to live with it. Sometimes I’ll want to call her, then suddenly, silent tears fall. It’s an emptiness.
You’re heading towards 50 – how do you feel about that?
Really happy. I’m here, I’m healthy, I’ve got such a zest for life. I’m also celebrating my 30th in Emmerdale this July, so it’s a big year. Medicine has come so far. My mum was an ostrich about her cancer, I know that now, she really was in her own headspace. I think now I’ve got a very good outlook on life and my health.
What do you love about playing Mandy?
Mandy’s a joy. There’s always something, and it’s full dress-up. Dominic Brunt [who plays Paddy Kirk], my best friend who has played my husband for so long, we care so much about each other. And we still want to put our nuances into those roles, like making a good casserole. The writers and producers give you so much, then we’ll put a bit of paprika on it.
Is there a lot of banter going on behind the scenes?
Yeah, especially with the Dingles. We’re thick as thieves, and go out socially together. At the moment, we’re workingin family pods. But then, for example, the gorgeous Claire King [who plays Kim Tate], we might not see for ages, though we’re in the same building. I’ve grown up with these people. I’m Nana there, so all the young ones are coming in, like Bradley Riches from Celebrity Big Brother who’s just joined us. He’s a lovely boy.
My 49th is on 13 July, and my anniversary for the show is 25 July, so I’ll be like the queen! We’ll definitely have an event together. Probably one with everybody, then a Dingle family one.
Of course, you lost your Strictly Come Dancing pro partner and good friend Robin Windsor last year…
I lost my best friend. I’m so lucky with our dressing room crew at work. Without those girls, some days, I wouldn’t be able to carry on. I put the wig on, the make-up and the costume and be funny, but my heart’s hurting. My husband-to-be Al has been amazing, but yes, I lost my gay best friend. He and I were Velcro together.
How are you coping now?
I’d never had therapy since losing my mum. However, with Robin, I had to start having therapy. It really does work. I lost mum, then Robin, and two and half months after Robin we lost my aunt suddenly when she was on holiday. She died having dinner. Looking back, I wonder, ‘Should I have taken more time off work?’ But I put
Mandy Dingle’s lashes on and kept going – that’s exactly what I did with my mum. That was my coping mechanism.
You have described Al as your “husband-to-be” – is he going to be walking you down the aisle?
We’re already married, but not married. And honestly, I truly couldn’t cope with the big day without my mum by my side. Why would I want to put myself through that? Al lost his mum not long ago, and he’s got no parents. Thank God I’ve got Dad. But you know, we’re not kids – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’re 11 years together in June.
Why do you complement each other?
I’m a bit bonkers, he’s brilliantly sarcastic, we appreciate each other. He’s a musician, we’re not in nine-to-five jobs, so we’re not always joined at the hip. And it’s that understanding. It’s his love for my family and my love for his. Sometimes, I can be a closed book. It’s those moments when I’m sitting in the back bedroom with the radio on all by myself, and he just knows I need that space – otherwise I really will shut down. He doesn’t over-pander to me.
