Former Emmerdale actress Natalie Ann Jamieson, who played Amy Barton, has embarked on a new chapter since her dramatic exit from the ITV soap last year. The star, who left after a tragic limo crash storyline, has been focusing on her personal life and fresh professional ventures.
Away from the Dales: A Private Long-Term Romance
While her on-screen character was married to Matty Barton, played by Ash Palmisciano, Jamieson's real-life love story is with partner Ali Ward. The couple have been together for an impressive 14 years, though the actress typically keeps details of their relationship away from the public eye.
She occasionally shares glimpses with her followers, such as a cheerful Christmas Day selfie posted in December 2025. Despite their enduring relationship, marriage is not currently on the cards. In a 2024 interview, the practical Geordie star expressed hesitation about traditional, costly weddings, even joking about the timing of her on-screen Emmerdale nuptials coinciding with a leap day proposal tradition.
Amy Barton's Heartbreaking Soap Exit
Natalie Ann Jamieson first arrived in the village in 2019 as the biological daughter of Kerry Wyatt. Amy's journey included giving her son up for adoption and her marriage to Matty in April 2024. However, her story ended tragically in 2025.
Amy Barton died following a cardiac arrest brought on by severe hypothermia after the dramatic limo crash that also claimed the lives of Leyla Harding and Suzy Merton. An inquest in October 2025 ruled all three deaths as accidental. The character's demise marked Jamieson's departure from the long-running series.
New Roles and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Nine months after leaving Emmerdale, the 37-year-old actress has not been idle. She has returned to her theatrical roots, taking part in a staged reading of a play at The Tute in Cambois, North East England.
More significantly, Jamieson has launched her own business venture: an embroidered T-shirt company named By Nat Jam. Announcing the project on Instagram, she explained her motivation was primarily about having fun and doing what she loves. "I'm lucky enough to do something I love as an actor and I never want to let that go - so I'm taking it into all aspects of my life!" she wrote, encouraging others to pursue their passions.
As Natalie Ann Jamieson builds her new career path, fans can still catch Emmerdale on ITV1 and STV on weekday evenings.
