In recent weeks, Virgin River fans have found themselves riding a wave of confusion, shock, and speculation, sparked by misleading headlines and viral chatter surrounding Sarah Dugdale,

the actress who brings Lizzie to life on Netflix’s beloved romantic drama. Social media buzz, dramatic phrasing, and out-of-context images led some fans to fear the worst,

while others became convinced that Dugdale herself was pregnant—or worse, that something tragic had happened behind the scenes. Let’s set the record straight.

Sarah Dugdale is alive, well, and continuing her work as one of Virgin River’s most compelling young stars. What has happened, however, is a powerful and emotionally charged storyline in Season 6 that has blurred the line between fiction and reality for many viewers.

At the center of the confusion is Lizzie’s pregnancy—a major plot development that becomes impossible to miss as Season 6 unfolds.

The Source of the Confusion: Lizzie’s Visible Baby Bump

As Virgin River Season 6 premiered, fans quickly noticed Lizzie appearing with a very realistic pregnancy bump. The attention to detail was so convincing that viewers began questioning whether Sarah Dugdale herself might be expecting. Screenshots circulated online, Reddit threads exploded with theories, and speculation intensified with each episode.

However, despite the intensity of the rumors, the truth is far less dramatic than some headlines suggest.

Sarah Dugdale is not pregnant in real life.
The pregnancy belongs solely to her character, Lizzie, and is a continuation of a storyline introduced in Season 5.

To further dispel the rumors, Dugdale’s public appearances and recent social media posts show no signs of a real-life pregnancy. She has also made no personal announcements suggesting she is expecting a child.

Adding a definitive confirmation, Moonbump—the company widely used in film and television to create realistic prosthetic pregnancy bellies—previously confirmed via social media that Dugdale was wearing one of their prosthetics for Virgin River. In short, what fans are seeing on screen is the result of skilled costume design and storytelling, not a real-life pregnancy.

Lizzie’s Journey: From Surprise to Reality

The emotional weight of the storyline comes from how deeply Lizzie’s pregnancy is woven into her character arc. Lizzie first discovered she was pregnant in Season 5, a revelation that sent shockwaves through her already complicated life. Young, uncertain, and still defining her place in Virgin River, Lizzie initially struggled with fear and denial.

She confided in her boyfriend, Denny, early on, but chose not to tell her mother right away—an omission that added tension and emotional strain. When the truth eventually came out, it forced long-standing issues between mother and daughter into the open. By the Season 5 finale, the two had reached a fragile but heartfelt reconciliation, offering fans a moment of hope amid uncertainty.

The season closed with another reveal: Lizzie and Denny were expecting a baby girl.

Season 6: Pregnancy in Full View—and Full Force

Season 6 picks up with Lizzie in the advanced stages of her pregnancy, and the show does not shy away from the physical and emotional toll it takes on her. Viewers see her grappling with exhaustion, fear about the future, and the overwhelming responsibility of impending motherhood.

Sarah Dugdale’s performance brings nuance and vulnerability to the storyline. Lizzie isn’t portrayed as either fearless or helpless; instead, she is shown navigating a complex emotional landscape filled with doubt, strength, resentment, and love. This realism is precisely why the storyline resonated so strongly—and why some viewers momentarily forgot they were watching fiction.

The Paternity Question: Denny or Ricky?

Fueling even more speculation is the unresolved question of the baby’s father.

While the show presents Denny as Lizzie’s current partner, many fans believe that Ricky—Lizzie’s ex-boyfriend—may actually be the father. Online discussions, particularly on Reddit, have pointed to the timeline of Lizzie’s relationships as evidence that the pregnancy may not be as straightforward as it seems.

Adding fuel to the fire, readers of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River novels note that in the books, Lizzie ultimately ends up with Ricky, and he is the father of her child. This literary precedent has led many fans to believe the series could be setting up a similar reveal.

However, it’s important to note that the Netflix adaptation has already made major changes from the source material. In the books, Lizzie is only 14 years old, while the series reimagines her as a 19-year-old young adult, allowing for more mature storylines and agency. Because of these changes, the show is not bound to follow the books’ exact trajectory.

As of now, Virgin River has not confirmed whether Ricky is the father, leaving the storyline deliberately open-ended.

What This Means for Season 7

If the series continues into Season 7, Lizzie’s pregnancy—and the truth about the baby’s paternity—could become a central emotional arc. The unresolved tension between Lizzie, Denny, and Ricky has the potential to reshape relationships, reopen old wounds, and challenge Lizzie’s sense of identity as she steps into motherhood.

For fans, this ambiguity is both frustrating and thrilling. It underscores Virgin River’s strength as a character-driven drama, one that thrives on emotional realism rather than neat resolutions.

Sarah Dugdale’s Impact Beyond the Rumors

The intensity of these rumors ultimately speaks to Sarah Dugdale’s effectiveness as an actress. Her portrayal of Lizzie has become so immersive that viewers instinctively conflate character and performer. That level of audience investment is rare—and valuable.

While alarming headlines may have caused momentary panic, the real story here is not tragedy, but the power of storytelling and performance. Dugdale remains a vital part of Virgin River’s ensemble, and Lizzie’s journey continues to be one of the show’s most emotionally resonant threads.

The Bottom Line

Despite misleading headlines and rampant speculation:

• Sarah Dugdale has not passed away.
• She is not pregnant in real life.
• Lizzie is pregnant on the show, using a prosthetic baby bump.
• The identity of the baby’s father remains unconfirmed.

As Virgin River moves forward, fans can expect more emotional twists, difficult choices, and deeply human moments—especially for Lizzie. And thanks to Sarah Dugdale’s grounded, heartfelt performance, those moments will continue to blur the line between fiction and reality in the best way possible.

For now, one thing is certain: Lizzie’s story is far from over, and neither is Sarah Dugdale’s place at the heart of Virgin River.