‘This is what I'm supposed to do'

Emmerdale’s Isobel Steele on playing troubled Liv, and what she’s learnt from co-star Danny Miller

- ALISON SLADE

EMMERDALE MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI / ITV / TIMES VARY / SOAP

Since joining Emmerdale as troubled Liv Flaherty at the tender age of 15, Isobel Steele has proved that she is one of the most gifted young actors on the box.

Right now, she’s in the thick of a hard-hitting storyline in which Liv has turned to alcohol to help her deal with her guilt over the death of ex-boyfriend Vinny’s father, Paul.

We caught up with Isobel, 20, to talk about playing drunk, her friendship with Danny Miller, and stars she dreams of working with…

Liv is in the grips of alcoholism, and this week tracks down her errant mother, Sandra. Why does she want to be with her mum?

She feels she’s being controlled at home, and she’s trying to connect with her roots. I think also, because the situation with Paul happened in the village, it’s traumatic for her to be there, so she wants to get away.

Her mum isn’t a positive presence in her life, though…

No, and that’s appealing to Liv. She knows she won’t have any eyes on her. Her mum doesn’t know she has a drink problem; they haven’t had much contact in the last five years, and I don’t think any of Liv’s problems would’ve mattered too much to Sandra anyway, because she’s too consumed with her own life.

Liv’s drink problem first became apparent three years ago. How did you feel when you learnt you would be revisiting her addiction?