Former Emmerdale star Daisy Campbell has bravely revealed the profound personal cost of her time on the hit ITV soap, confessing she effectively sacrificed her entire childhood for the role of Amelia Spencer.
The actress, who joined the show at just thirteen years old, spoke with shocking candour about the immense pressure and isolation that came with life as a young soap star.
A Childhood Lost to the Dales
Campbell's journey in the Dales began in 2014, a commitment that would span nine formative years. She described how her adolescence was utterly consumed by the demanding filming schedule, leaving no room for a normal teenage experience.
"I didn't really have a childhood, to be honest," she revealed. "From 13 to 21, I was in Emmerdale. That's your whole teenage years gone." The relentless routine of schoolwork followed by immediate filming created a bubble that separated her from her peers and the typical milestones of youth.
The Crushing Blow of Being Axed
The end came suddenly in 2023 when producers decided to write her character out. Campbell described the axe as a devastating identity crisis. Having built her entire life around the show, her dismissal felt like a personal rejection.
"You can't help but take it personally," she admitted. "You've given your whole life to this job and then they don't want you anymore." The cancellation of her contract left her grappling with a fundamental question: who was she without Amelia Spencer?
Rebuilding a Life After Soap Stardom
Now pursuing a degree in Psychology at the University of Leeds, Campbell is forging a new path away from the cameras. Her experience highlights the often-hidden psychological toll on child actors in the high-pressure world of continuing drama.
Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the real human cost behind the glamorous facade of television, raising important questions about the support systems for young performers in the industry.
