Overview

• Samantha Womack reports being frequently approached by fans who caution her about Oliver Farnworth’s on-screen role as Emmerdale’s John Sugden.
• Viewers’ strong reactions highlight how soap audiences often conflate actors with their villainous characters.
• Womack and Farnworth, who met during a 2019 West End run of The Girl on the Train, now share a home in Spain.
• The actress recalls feeling rejected after her 2017 exit from EastEnders under producer Sean O’Connor’s leadership.
• She emphasizes the importance of routine checks after a 2022 breast cancer diagnosis was caught early and followed by a full recovery.