Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins has opened up about her plans to return to the ITV soap following the birth of her baby. The 32-year-old actress, who plays Victoria Sugden, took maternity leave earlier this year, with her character leaving the Dales for a new life abroad with her son Harry.
Isabel's Maternity Leave
Isabel gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Georgie Grace, in February. She regularly shares updates on her Instagram, recently posting snaps from a family holiday with her partner Adam and their daughter.
When Victoria left the village, she told her brother Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) that she would return. Now, Isabel has discussed the possibility of coming back to the show, acknowledging the challenge of balancing work and motherhood.
'I will need to find a way to manage that. For 20 years, work has been my priority,' she said on the podcast You Don't Know You're Born with Danny Miller and Nigel Clucas. Isabel added that becoming a parent completely 'flipped [her] way of thinking'.
Return Timeline
'To be honest, I still don't know when I'm going back. In my ideal world, it would be September. And then it's all systems go. [That's when] it really starts with the juggling and potential mum guilt, and whatever,' she revealed.
Isabel also reflected on her conversation with Emmerdale producers about her maternity leave. 'It was very much at my discretion how much [time] I wanted off.' She initially thought she would work until early 2026, but bosses told her she would finish her final scenes before Christmas.
'It was mid-December. But in hindsight they did me a favour. The drive, Manchester to Leeds, it was killing me a bit,' she admitted.
Character Exit
Isabel's character left the Dales after being blackmailed by Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). Joe secured the Sugden farmland from Victoria and Robert by using proof that Victoria killed John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). Haunted by bad memories, Victoria chose to leave with son Harry to start anew abroad.
