Emmerdale actress Jaye Griffiths delivered an emotionally raw account of her experience with domestic abuse during Thursday's episode of ITV's Loose Women, breaking down in tears as she described the five-year ordeal that saw her partner both beat and gaslight her.
The Emotional Breakdown
The 62-year-old actress, who joined the soap earlier this year as villainous farmer Celia Daniels, visibly shook during the powerful interview as she explained how making basic decisions like choosing between tea or coffee still feels like a revelation after years of abuse.
'When I am choosing between having tea or coffee that is fine because there will be no consequences to my actions,' she told viewers, her voice trembling. 'If I choose tea the world won't collapse.'
Griffiths described how victims of domestic abuse spend their entire lives trying to keep the peace, never making decisions for themselves until they finally escape their nightmare situation.
Living in Constant Fear
The actress revealed the terrifying reality of her former relationship, where even the most mundane actions could trigger violent consequences. 'I never knew what would set it off and what not to do,' she confessed. 'If you made the tea the wrong way then that could have consequences, if you put the milk back in the wrong place...'
She contrasted this with her life now, where having her own fridge means she can place milk wherever she wants without fear. 'My boundaries are now so concrete,' she stated proudly, acknowledging the support network that helped her escape.
Loose Women panelists Kaye Adams and Frankie Bridge immediately comforted the distressed actress during the broadcast, while viewers at home took to social media to praise her bravery in speaking out.
Years of Silence and Shame
Last month, Griffiths had already begun opening up about her experience on Kaye Adams' How To Be 60 podcast, where she revealed the shame that kept her silent for years. 'I couldn't tell anybody because I was so ashamed. I disappeared for about five years,' she admitted.
She detailed the psychological manipulation she endured, describing classic gaslighting behaviour where her partner would constantly tell her she was wrong about reality. The abuse extended to financial control, where even turning on the heating could provoke violent outbursts.
'You live in a world of, 'What should I do? what's for the best?'' she explained of the impossible situations abuse victims face daily.
The actress shared the shocking statistic she learned from police: 'on average a woman is hit 37 times before she tells anyone.' She described the exhaustion of constantly lying to everyone around her, pretending everything was fine when she was living in terror.
Rebuilding Through Small Choices
Griffiths explained how her recovery began with reclaiming the smallest decisions in her life. From preferring tea without milk to disliking bread entirely, these minor choices became the foundation of her rebuilt identity.
'Those small choices are your foundation, because you can decide without consequence, and then time passes and you get stronger,' she revealed.
The actress expressed frustration with the common question victims face: 'Why didn't you just leave?' She countered sharply: 'Where? And tell who? And do what?' highlighting the practical impossibilities abuse victims confront.
Now happily married and living in Hertfordshire with her partner of over two decades, Griffiths admitted it took years for her to trust and open up again. Her journey from victim to survivor serves as a powerful testament to resilience, even as she plays a villain on television screens across the country.
The actress's Emmerdale character Celia Daniels was recently exposed as the mastermind behind a drugs gang terrorising the village, a role that has seen her character violently assault teenager April Windsor and threaten her life. Meanwhile, in real life, Griffiths continues her courageous work speaking out about domestic abuse to help others in similar situations.
