ITV Emmerdale: Real life of Priya Sharma actress Fiona Wade - spiritual wedding moment, co-star love and battle against 'crippling' condition
19.03.2022 - 19:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Emmerdale fans will know all about the ups and downs of Priya Sharma's life, but how much do they know about the actress that plays her?
Fiona Wade took on the role in the ITV soap in 2011 - and has had her fair share of explosive storylines. Her character has had a whirlwind of romances and affairs, but away from the cameras, actress Fiona is loved-up with her co-star husband.
The 42-year-old met actor Simon Cotton, 44, on-set when he was cast in a guest part on Emmerdale. After two years of dating, the couple tied the knot at a star-studded fairytale wedding in the Cotswolds in 2019.
READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street: Off-screen life of David Platt actor Jack P Shepherd - gorgeous girlfriend, hair loss struggles, and Hollywood fail
However the pair didn't move in together at their Hertfordshire home until after saying 'I do'. Fiona, whose mother is Filipina, follows the strict Bahá’í religion, and so didn't want to live with her partner until they were married, reports OK!
Reflecting on her decision, the star said: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with living together before marriage and Simon and I had stayed [overnight] together.”
“But I felt that if he was the right person, I didn’t want to live together before I was married. I didn’t want to compromise.”
Their special day saw Fiona being walked down the aisle by her mum Tessie as her dad, Colin, died of oesophageal cancer when she was just 24.
Fiona, who describes herself as spiritual, has previously opened up about feeling her dad's presence.
Speaking to OK! she said: "I was so emotional. When I was getting ready, me, my mum, and best friend Kirsty had a bit of a cry.
"You always dream of that moment and you hope your dad is going to walk you down the