The Emmerdale star played Leyla Harding for 16 years before her exit from the ITV soap.

Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi has opened up about a harrowing storyline that impacted her behind the scenes.

The star took on the role of Leyla Harding in the ITV soap, appearing on screens as Jacob Gallagher’s mum between 2008 and 2015 before her character’s death in February after a fatal crash.

Over her years on the show, Roxy was a part of some difficult and emotional storylines, including marrying local GP Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and facing grief when his young daughter was murdered by Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu).

Roxy has now spoken about how difficult it was to film as it impacted her as a mum herself.

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Speaking on The Lewis Nicholls Show , she said: “I just wept everyday because I think it was just the idea of being a parent and loss, and knowing that there are so many parents out there…he [Jonny McPherson] worked with a lot of charities and spoke to a lot of parents.

“This kind of raw connection to it, but the realisation that you try and hide away from day to day – there is so much grief, especially for parents.

“Just being confronted with that day in day out – it is selfish to say because I didn’t experience that, and I’m so lucky.”

She added, “People going through that and that loss, to portray it, I was just so upset.”

She went on to say that though the storyline was fictional, it was difficult filming in the house and seeing pictures of Leanna.

“Even just being in the house with him. When we kind of started to move on from that being the primary focus of the scenes, all the pictures were everywhere. Even though it was fictional, I’d be reminded of this huge loss.”

Dancing On Ice star Roxy welcomed her daughter in 2018, after marrying actor Arsher Ali in 2010.

This comes after Roxy told Metro in May how she felt leaving the soap after more than 16 years.

“I’m adjusting. I think it’s equally terrifying and really exciting,” she said at the time.

“You know when you’re like, stood on the edge of a cliff and you’re like, oh my god, it’s so exciting.

“But equally, you’re out of that bubble, you’re out of that comfort zone. And there are also elements that you miss. You miss your friends, you miss your routine, you miss the character.

“But also, I’m 42 now, and I was lucky enough to spend 16 years in a show that I loved. Life is short, and I’m really ready for new adventures, for new projects, and to see where those things take me.”