Soap star Laura Norton is best known for playing gobby Geordie Kerry Wyatt on ITV soap Emmerdale since 2012.
Having entertained viewers with a slew of memorable storylines including that deadly fire that killed Frank, Laura, 37, took a break from TV to welcome her first child with her co-star fiancé Mark Jordon.
The actress’ real life is much more settled as the famous duo raise their family in a stunning countryside home close to Yorkshire.
From shocking hair loss struggles, on-set romance and tackling her sugar addiction, Daily Star has taken a look inside the life of soap star away from the cameras.
Health battle
(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
After landing her dream job as Kerry Wyatt on the ITV soap, Laura has opened up about dealing with hair loss over the last 20 years and discussed how it has affected herself image.
Laura said she has suffered with hair loss since 16, when she started using a pill to “control her horrendous periods”.
Sharing her journey with OK! magazine, the soap star shared that doctors never told her that certain pills are testosterone-heavy and attack hair follicles, which can make hair thinner and fall out.
She revealed: “I have suffered hair loss on and off since 16, when I started using synthetic hormones to control my horrendous periods.
“What they never told me was certain pills are testosterone-heavy and attack hair follicles, making hair get thinner and weaker, then fall out.
“After years of ups and downs, falling out, growing back and so on, I reached a peak. I got my dream job playing Kerry Wyatt on Emmerdale and – boom – my hair was falling out in clumps. Thanks, universe, great timing!”
Co-star romance
Having found friendship with fellow Emmerdale actor Mark Jordon, who plays Daz Spencer on the soap, Laura has spoken out about the pair’s sizzling on-set chemistry that led to a romance in 2015.
Having joined the cast just two years after Laura in 2014, the actress said she and Mark became friends straight away, but it was around a year and half later that things turned romantic between them.
Speaking on Loose Women in 2020, Laura said: “When we first told each other we liked each other we just went, ‘Shall we just leave it? Shall we just stay as friends? It’s probably best.’
“So, it was months after we actually told each other.”
Mark, 55, added: “We were really good friends. We kept re-examining the question and eventually it was a bit more of a question.”
Laura and Mark got engaged in 2018, but didn’t announce it until seven months later.
Mark revealed the news on Twitter, writing: “Well 2018 had some of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Really got to feel the love of true friends.
“Feel blessed by the support of my children and elated to have heard the word “yes” from the most beautiful woman in the world. (sic)”
Mark was married to Benidorm actress Siobhan Finneran and they have two children together – Poppy and Joseph.
The soap stars also welcomed son Jesse in early 2021. Taking to Instagram, Laura wrote: “So, on Friday Jan 29th at 1.30am we managed to bring this little champ into the world.
“It was the most incredible, surreal experience I have ever had and probably ever will and my tiny mind is blown.
“He is perfect and we’re all so happy to welcome him to the fam. Jesse Jordon we’re all head over heels IN LOVE with you.”
Weight loss transformation
(Image: Getty Images)
In 2018 Laura revealed she began a massive weight loss transformation after admitting she used to drink a shocking four litres of coke a day.
Speaking to The Mirror, Laura spoke of her addiction to sugar and how she knew it had “gone too far”.
She said: “I had been addicted since I was a teenager. At its worst, I used to drink two 2-litre bottles of Coke a day.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
“But, when you are addicted, you don’t realise how much you are getting through.
“In the end, it was my dad who pointed it out.”
Laura gave up the fizzy drink and said she felt “lucky to still have a tooth in her head”.
She added: “It was so much caffeine, so much sugar, so bad for your teeth.
“I know now how much sugar is in it. One day I was at home in my pyjamas and I wanted my dad to go to the off-licence to get me some Coke. I think he just thought it had gone too far.”
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She also told Lorraine in 2019 how she had lost weight: “I just cut all the rubbish out and exercised,” she said.
“Do you know, in the eight years that I have been [on Emmerdale], I have never once had a pudding.
“I can’t. It’s just a slippery slope,” she admitted.
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
