Michelle Hardwick has split from her wife.
Michelle Hardwick
The 'Emmerdale' star - who is known for playing Vanessa Woodfield in the long-running soap - has revealed she ended her relationship with her spouse Rosie Nicholl, 32, last year - less than a year after they wed in 2015 - because they started to drift apart.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "Unfortunately Rosie and I did split last year but are still good friends. It was one of those things where we did drift apart. We had a big fairytale wedding and I still love that day, it was brilliant. It's just really sad and one of those things that happens. We still have our dogs which we'll share and nobody else was involved, it just happened and it was a mutual decision. I don't know how else to explain it. I grew out of love and she became more of my best friend. It was like we were living as friends, not a married couple. We're still living together, just in separate rooms while the divorce goes through but it's underway."
Although the 40-year-old actress adores her pet pooches Harley and Jess, her busy soap career means she can no longer look after them and they will stay with Rosie.
She said: "It has been the hardest thing either of us has ever been through. Coming to the decision to split was very difficult. But I believe it will be for the best in the long run."
Michelle also kept it a secret from her cast mates until recently because she didn't want to be bombarded with loads of questions when she was trying to get stuck into work.
She explained: "It wasn't an overnight shock, it was just a slow-burning feeling we both had. I kept it a secret from everyone at work, I just came to work to work and didn't want to discuss it with anybody. Nothing was posted on social media, we just wanted it to be private. But people have started to notice that I am not wearing my wedding ring.
"I didn't want to respond until the time was right. It is really, really sad. I can't help but think about my parents who were happily married at 17 and 18 and are still blissfully happy - and that makes me feel like a failure."