Emmerdale actress Natalie J Robb has revealed she was temporarily homeless and forced to sleep in her car after moving to London to pursue an acting career. The 42-year-old, who stars as Moira Dingle in the ITV soap, spoke about the difficulties of breaking into the acting world in an interview with The Sunday Post, recalling how she struggled to make ends meet when she first relocated from Scotland.
"I was OK, but I lived in my car for a couple of weeks when I first moved down," Natalie admitted. "I was due to stay with my cousin but he had another lodger, meaning I couldn't stay straight away so I just slept in my car. I don't mind – I just thought it was all part of the experience."
Emmerdale's Natalie J Robb was homeless when she first moved to London to pursue an acting career
Of her determination to succeed, she added: "I looked up to the sky to ask the universe and thought, 'I'm going to do this and follow this dream, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but back me up, will you?'"
Natalie, who narrowly missed out on a National Television Award last week – has starred in Emmerdale since 2009, but her career began more than 20 years ago. She first appeared on screen in a 1992 episode of Taggart, and later landed roles in shows including London's Burning, Doctors, The Bill, EastEnders and Waterloo Road.
Natalie is best known for playing Moira Dingle (pictured with on-screen daughter Holly)
Of course, Natalie is now a firm favourite amongst Emmerdale viewers, thanks in part to a number of explosive storylines – from her affair and subsequent marriage to Cain Dingle, to the shocking death of her daughter Holly Barton from an overdose last year.