Amy Wyatt
Amy Barton is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Natalie Ann Jamieson. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 October 2010, played by Chelsea Halfpenny. Since her inception Amy has been central to main storylines and has been played as the serial's rebellious teenager. Halfpenny has said she enjoys playing the character's mischievous side. Amy's unstable upbringing in children's homes and foster care has impacted on her persona. She is a troubled character and protects herself by creating a hard exterior. Amy's biggest fear is embarrassment and she aspires to lead a normal family life with her foster parents Val Pollard and Eric Pollard. As her storylines have developed she has grown close to the pair, yet rebelled at various stages. Charlie Hardwick and Chris Chittell who play Val and Eric have expressed their delight with the positive impact Amy has had on their on-screen family.
Other stories for the character include blackmail, one-night stands, heavy drinking and robberies. In 2011, the programme's series producer Stuart Blackburn devised a storyline to help viewers relate to Amy more. It began when Amy discovers she is pregnant by the serial's villain Cain Dingle. As the narrative progresses, Amy becomes ostracised as the fear of losing her new-found family increases. Halfpenny announced her departure from Emmerdale in October 2013, and she departed on 14 November 2013. The character was reintroduced on 7 March 2019, with Natalie Ann Jamieson now in the role. Amy has received mixed reviews from critics. Entertainment website Digital Spy has favoured many of her storylines. Halfpenny has been nominated for three Best Newcomer awards for her portrayal of Amy.
The character was killed off on 20 February 2025 after suffering a cardiac arrest due to severe hypothermia suffered after a limousine crash involving several other established characters.
Character development
Creation and characterisation
Series producer Gavin Blyth first mentioned Amy's arrival in June 2010. He said the characters of Val and Eric Pollard faced a "fascinating future" with the arrival of a "fresh-faced stranger who takes a shine to the pair." Amy debuted on-screen on 8 October 2010 when she found herself stranded outside the village. She later moves in with Val and Eric and attempts to rebuild her life.Amy is a happy character with a mischievous personality. As Amy grew up in foster care it shows in her persona. Though it is often hard for people to understand why she acts wayward, she also has the vulnerability factor. Halfpenny said she likes Amy's mischievous side and hoped she would not learn to be sensible. Halfpenny also felt it was important that Amy remained youthful because she disliked portrayals of teenagers growing up too quickly. She found it easy to portray a character younger than herself as she could base aspects of Amy's story on her own teenage experience. At times she is scared she puts on a "hard exterior". Amy has a distinct style, Halfpenny described it as being quite "out there" in her choice of clothing and make-up. Halfpenny said that viewers would not be getting used to Amy's "nice side" and reminded them that she is good at "lying and scheming". She concluded that Amy's bad side was due to resurface.
Adjusting to family life
After Val and Eric foster Amy, she starts acting rebellious again. She starts drinking and throwing herself at men, forcing her foster parents to have second thoughts. Halfpenny told Inside Soap that Amy goes off the rails because she is convinced everything goes wrong in her life. "She's afraid of getting hurt, so she spoils things for herself before anyone else can get there first." Halfpenny explained that Val's parental approach compared to Eric's was contrasting. Eric had not been around when his son David Metcalfe grew up, Halfpenny said this factor meant that Eric is not tolerant with Amy's bad behaviour. Though, Val had brought up her own children, her approach towards Amy is "light-hearted." However, when Amy continues her alcohol binges, Val and Eric feel she has "gone too far" and "question their ability to cope with her." Served with an ultimatum, Amy has to endure changes to remain with her new family. Halfpenny claimed the main change she had to make was "to keep her tongue in her own mouth and cool it down with the boys."Off-screen Wolfenden, Hardwick and Chittel were thrilled by Amy's inclusion. Wolfenden said Halfpenny's acting skill has "freshened the whole place up." In comparison, David was initially hostile to Amy's inclusion in his family. However, in one storyline his attitude towards her softens and results in Amy developing feelings for him. Wolfenden said David "has a soft spot for Amy" and flirted with her. Over time he began to see her as his "little sister." When David's girlfriend, Leyla Harding accuses Amy of stealing from the shop, David proves her innocence by exposing Alicia Gallagher as the thief. Wolfenden added that David has given out the wrong signals and acted naive during the story arc. Wolfenden explained that Amy misreads the signs because "she never had that sort of affection when she was growing up." Amy kisses David which shocks him, though Wolfenden felt it should not surprise him. Amy lies to her best friend Victoria Sugden, claiming she has slept with him and runs away from home.
Halfpenny revealed that Amy genuinely liked David and thought the feeling was mutual. "She wouldn't do it to embarrass herself; i think that is one of Amy's biggest fears being embarrassed." When David tracks Amy down; she blackmails him in return for the truth but David exposes her to Eric. Halfpenny said Amy was hurt by David's deception because she trusted him and despite their problems had a "good relationship". Eric tries to convince Amy to return home to lead the life she had always wanted, because "deep down he really cares about her." The strict parenting role is played once again with Eric, and Halfpenny branded the moment as Amy "meeting her match." As "nothing is straight forward with Amy", she returns home but finds telling the truth hard. Amy settles into village life until Jared Haynes arrives and blackmails Amy. An Emmerdale spokesperson revealed that Amy had an affair with Jared's father and ruined his family. "She’s got herself in a mess and this is just the start of her problems." Amy steals from Val and Eric to pay Jared off. At this point in the story Val and Eric "are sick of Amy's bad behaviour." Val refuses to give her any more help.
Cain Dingle and pregnancy
Amy's role in the serial increased with her much publicised pregnancy storyline. The plot begins when Amy has sex with Cain Dingle. Halfpenny said "It's Amy who takes the lead and it goes from there." Hordley explained that Amy's attention inflates Cain's ego and he thinks "'aye, aye". It's still young but in his book, he's like, 'wahey, I've still got it'." However, when he learns she is sixteen, "he feels incredibly stupid and "embarrassed." Cain shows no guilt and orders her to keep her distance. Halfpenny said Amy is not fazed by Cain's attitude and uses the situation to make David jealous.In August 2011, Amy discovers she is pregnant and is left in a state of shock. With the storyline Halfpenny received her busiest filming schedules since she started filming. Halfpenny told What's on TV that "it couldn't have come at a worse time" because Amy is on her final chance with Val and Eric. Cain is unsympathetic, angry – while Amy is scared. Hordley said Cain wants to keep it "low-key – to get rid and then move on." He attempts to force her into an abortion and Amy agrees because she isn't "very bright" and thinks it will be the "easier option." When she sees her ultrasound scan, Amy cannot go ahead with the abortion due to her own upbringing. Amy's left in a terrified frame of mind when Victoria tells her about Cain's violent past.
As the storyline developed, it held the potential to ruin the positive changes that the character had achieved. Halfpenny said Amy had become really close to Val and Eric. They are in a "good place" and they think "Amy's all happy." The one person she wants to tell is Val, with whom she shares the closest bond and shes "gutted" to remain silent. It prevents them from having a normal parent/child relationship, as the truth would ruin her one last chance. Halfpenny said her portrayal turns Amy to a "dark place" as she is "too young to be coping with something like this." As Amy becomes preoccupied with fear in case Cain finds out, Halfpenny said it makes Amy do "something dangerous." Though, Amy has Victoria to fall back on and is described as "her rock". Emmerdale series producer Stuart Blackburn said the storyline would change the lives of a lot of people around Amy. At times he said the narrative is "truly heart breaking" and dangerous. "I think it's going to change perceptions of Amy we’re going to start to understand Amy an awful lot more."