In a dramatic turn of events that aired on New Year's Day, Emmerdale's notorious villain Celia Daniels met a bloody end, stabbed to death by her own right-hand man, Ray Walters. The farmer and drug lord, portrayed by actress Jaye Griffiths, finally received the comeuppance many viewers felt she deserved, but the actress behind the character has shared her profound sadness at being written out of the long-running ITV soap.
A Tragic End for a 'Best Ever' Role
Jaye Griffiths, 62, whose career includes roles in The Bill, Silent Witness, and Casualty, described Celia as "one of the best roles she has ever had." Despite knowing the wicked character's time was up, Griffiths admits the reality of leaving was "very hard." She confessed to resisting her departure, taking ages to learn her final lines, and nearly crying during her last scene before having to lie on a cold studio floor, pretending to be dead.
The fatal clash occurred when Ray, played by Joe Absolom, refused to leave the village after falling in love with Laurel Thomas. His desire for a new, quiet life was "preposterous" to Celia, leading to a catastrophic argument and the delivery of the fatal blows. "She lost control," Griffiths explained, highlighting the character's ultimate downfall.
Embracing the Villainy and a Life-Changing Experience
Praised by her fellow cast members, Celia has been called one of the nastiest characters in the soap's history, a fact Griffiths finds "flattering." She revelled in playing someone with zero maternal instincts or scruples, a departure from typical female roles. "I found it liberating to be that unfeeling," she said, listing Celia's heinous crimes which included forcing April Windsor into prostitution, human trafficking, running a modern slavery operation, and extorting villagers like Rhona and Marlon Dingle.
Griffiths revealed that joining Emmerdale in June was "life-changing." She praised the supportive, hard-working cast and crew, where everyone is willing to help and "nobody is too cool for school." The experience has been so positive that she has found it "really tough" to adjust to having no scenes to learn or call sheets since finishing filming in late November.
Looking Forward: Advocacy and New Roles
While she will miss the show dearly, Griffiths agrees that Celia's murder was necessary. "There is no redemption for Celia," she stated, confirming the character had to be killed off to prevent her from harming another family.
Away from the Dales, Griffiths has used her platform to highlight important issues, including modern-day slavery. She has also spoken openly about her own past as a victim of domestic abuse during an appearance on Loose Women in November. Now happily married, she is working with charities like Refuge to support other victims, a direct result of the personal growth she experienced during her time on the soap.
Currently relaxing at home in Hertfordshire with her family and rescue dogs, the actress has a new role on the horizon, though she remains tight-lipped due to non-disclosure agreements. She leaves Emmerdale with Celia's iconic stick and hat as mementos from what she simply calls "a blast."
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 7:30 PM on ITV1 and STV, and is available from 7:00 AM on ITVX and STV Player.
