One of soap lands most evil characters isn’t long for the Dales… (Picture: ITV)
Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) is one of the most vile characters to ever emerge in soap land, and her tenure in Emmerdale has proven just how utterly devoid of humanity she is, while committing some of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
The mastermind behind a large-scale organised crime operation, trafficking both drugs and humans, forcing people into prostitution and a modern day human slavery racket, there’s few lines the crime boss and her subordinate, Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) won’t cross in the pursuit of money and power.
While Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle), who formerly lived on the streets with no support has long since been taken in by the organisation, April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) has since been groomed, manipulated and later terrorised into dealing drugs and engaging in sex work, while Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has been enslaved, forced to live and work in barbaric circumstances.
A character this evil was always going to have a shelf life…
Celia’s exit confirmed
‘I knew it was finite, which I am very sad about, because I would like to stay forever, but it’s such a strong arc,’ Jaye told Metro regarding her stint on the show. Commenting further on being a part of the Emmerdale team, she described it as: ‘heaven!’
Jaye added: ‘It’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever worked, and I’ve done a little bit of work before! It is gentle and kind and professional and funny, and people care that it’s good. People care that we tell the story properly. It’s a joy to come to work. I’m gushing now, aren’t I?’
Speaking on how Celia compares to the usual roles she’s offered, Jaye said: ‘I usually get the upstanding, morally robust people. Doctors, police officers, lawyers – not that they’re all morally robust, but you get my drift. Whereas Celia, her compass is buried. She doesn’t need one, she just needs to make money.
‘She doesn’t have many laughs, I’m hardly swinging from the rafters but no, it’s just so wonderful to explore someone who doesn’t mind whether you like or not, because your opinion is of less than no value.
‘It simply doesn’t cross her mind that you have one or that I should take any note of it. So it makes her big and to never be afraid, to never feel fear, because the worst that could happen has already happened, and she survived. So bring it on. Just bring it on!’
Celia’s sprawling organisation has extended its tentacles throughout the village (Picture: Mark Bruce/ITV)
So what is it that makes Celia such a delicious villain? According to Jaye, it’s her utter lack of self doubt: ‘The reason that Celia works is because she has no little voice in her head. You know that little voice that tells women, particularly, that you’re not enough, you’re too tall, you’re too short, you’re too fat, you’re too thin, you’re too old, you’re too young.
That self-critical, nasty voice that stops us doing many things. Celia doesn’t have one of those. Celia has, ‘what do I want? Well, then I’ll get that’, and that’s it. So she just lives in, ‘what do I want? What’s best for business, what is the most interesting thing’, and that is very freeing. If there are no consequences internally, if there’s no conscience, you can do anything you want. It’s great fun!’
How could Celia leave Emmerdale?
Given the extent of torment Celia has inflicted, it’s safe to say her exit will be an explosive one. The bad guys aways get caught in Emmerdale so justice will hopefully be served.
If (or, more accurately, when) Celia’s cover is finally blown, and her various crimes are exposed, how does Jaye see her alter-ego reacting? ‘I think you’ll see annoyance. It won’t be the first time that it’s had to be dissolved and moved.’
The star, however, reckons prison could be off the table.
‘The idea that she would get caught is inconceivable. Inconceivable. No, she will move blame. She will throw anyone under the bus before herself. I mean, no, she’s not going to prison! Get out of her way, is what I’m saying!’
‘Get out of her way is what I’m saying!’ warns Jaye (Picture: Mark Bruce/ITV)
In addition to wondering how her exit might come about, there’s also the question of who will play a role in her and Ray’s downfall. Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) feels like a likely option, given how worried he’s been over daughter April.
There is of course the possibility that Ross Barton (Michael Parr), who is very protective of April too, will take revenge when the truth explodes.
‘‘I imagine when Ross does find out, there’s going to be hell to pay,’ said Michael. ‘I love working with Joe and Jaye as well. I think if Ross is provoked and you hurt the wrong people around him, the old Ross is gonna come out.’
Playing Celia brings challenges
On the challenges she’s faced in playing such a heinous character, Jaye explained that embodying Celia’s ‘shut down’ humanity has been particularly interesting:
‘When you have to shut down, shut down all feeling, shut down any regard you have for the people you’re with. That is exhausting – when we do rehearsals, particularly if I’m going to be violent, and you hear the crew go, ‘ooh’ and then you have to go, ‘oh, I’m nice, really, I’m not really a sociopath, please don’t eat me! It’s just pretend!’
‘Shutting down is really interesting, so nothing you do will make me change my mind. It doesn’t matter if you cry or beg or scream or fight, nothing’s happening because it’s just you and your world, I don’t care. Simply don’t care.