Emmerdale Star's Emotional Triumph Over Fear
Lisa Riley, the beloved Emmerdale actress famous for playing Mandy Dingle, has shared an incredibly emotional moment with her fans as she confronted one of her biggest fears ahead of her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
In a candid video posted on her social media accounts, the 49-year-old actress could be seen visibly shaking as she prepared to touch rats for the very first time. The challenge was one she set for herself while still filming for the ITV soap, determined to build her resilience before entering the Australian jungle.
The Heart-Racing Moment of Truth
The footage shows Lisa arriving on the Emmerdale set with the specific goal to 'touch some rats'. Fighting back tears and seeking reassurance from those around her, the actress bravely reached out to hold one of the creatures.
In a dramatic turn, the rat didn't just stay in her hands but climbed up onto her shoulder, causing Lisa to become increasingly emotional. After allowing the animal to remain there for some time, she completely broke down in tears, overwhelmed by having accomplished her daunting goal.
Demonstrating remarkable courage, Lisa didn't stop at just one rat. A subsequent scene in her video shows her with two rats perched on her shoulder, proving she had well and truly faced her fear head-on.
Preparation for the Jungle Ahead
Speaking about her mental strategy during the experience, Lisa explained: 'You've got to think that it's not what it is. Does that make sense? I'm thinking it's like a toy is on my shoulder.' By closing her eyes and reframing the situation, she managed to push through her apprehension.
By the conclusion of the video, Lisa appeared significantly happier and more confident, seemingly ready to take on whatever challenges the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity might throw at her.
The actress confirmed earlier this week that she would indeed be entering the jungle, enthusiastically stating: 'It's going to be ace!' She also hinted that viewers might see glimpses of her famous character, adding: 'I will be there for everyone but I don't suffer fools gladly. My inner Mandy Dingle will come out if someone is mean!'
Lisa revealed that she'd been asked to participate in I'm A Celeb multiple times before but felt that now was the right moment, citing her approaching 50th birthday, the 25th anniversary of playing Mandy Dingle, and her achievement of being sober for ten years as factors that made her ready for this new challenge.
She shared a deeply personal perspective, telling us: 'I lost my best friend not so long ago and mum got diagnosed at the age of 48 (with breast cancer), I'm 49. Nothing can be as bad as that in life and I have got to see if I can do it. Every day is a blessing and I want to really enjoy everything.'
According to sources, Lisa has already filmed her final Emmerdale scenes before departing for the jungle. A source added to The Sun: 'Lisa filmed her scenes last week, Mandy goes to visit friends and will be back before you know it. She'll be back filming full throttle once she's back from her trip down under too. Fans won't have long to wait for her return once the scenes air next year.'
I'm A Celebrity begins Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 or ITVX.
