Who knew that the “Trolls” soundtrack could some in so handy?
It’s a tough job being an actor – especially when you have to get totes emosh for a sad scene like Emma Atkins often does as Charity Dingle in Emmerdale. When that’s the case, our favourite thesps need to dig deep, delving into their past to draw on memories that help get them all teary for the cameras.
And Emma tells us that she relies on a certain song to get her in the right place for tricky storylines. "What is it?" we hear you cry. Adele’s Someone Like You? I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston? Nope, it’s Justin Timberlake’s cover of the Cyndi Lauper hit True Colours, which features on the soundtrack to the 2016 Dreamworks animation, Trolls.
"My son Albert loves it so much," reveals the 43 year old. "It’s about friendship. There’s a character called Branch, and he loses his colour because his grandma has died, and there’s a moment where the other character Poppy’s colour gets drained as well.
"As it comes back, True Colours comes on, and as soon as I hear that song, I connect it to my son. It’s such a beautiful story, and it absolutely helps me get to where I need to be."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp9qOlKB0F4
She adds: "Music, for me, is very powerful and evocative, and emotionally engaging."
No doubt a burst of True Colours came in useful for Emma’s latest storyline, which is set to make viewers look at Charity in a whole new light. In scenes to be screened next week, the Woolpack co-owner will open up to partner Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) about abuse she suffered as a teen, which she has kept buried for almost thirty years.
Says Emma: "It was so difficult to film, because I wanted to pitch it emotionally perfect. I think two of the hardest things are drunk scenes and crying scenes, because you don’t want to do too much.
"I have no idea how it will all look on screen, but I couldn’t have worked any harder on it than I did, so I feel quite proud."
Emmerdale continues on ITV.
