Emmerdale’s Alice Dingle looks unrecognisable 20 years after she quit acting for whole new career

EMMERDALE actress Ursula Holden-Gill was last seen in the ITV soap nearly twenty years ago.

The soap actress, who played Emmerdale's Alice Dingle, first arrived in the Dales in 2004 and was a firm favourite with viewers.

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Married to Sam Dingle, played by James Hooton, she was a loving wife and a doting mum to son Samson.

Yet tragedy struck and ITV viewers and soap fans were left broken hearted when Alice tragically passed away in 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer whilst pregnant.

The heartbreaking storyline saw Alice push on and ignore doctor's advice as she wanted to become a mother, and she gave birth to her and Sam's son prematurely.

After trying chemotherapy treatment, Alice was ultimately given a terminal diagnosis with just months to live.

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Not wanting to waste away, Alice planned her own death in a euthanasia plan with husband Sam and she died of a morphine overdose in 2006.

The tragic story saw Ursula win the Best Soap Actress Award, at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards in 2006.

After leaving Emmerdale, Ursula moved away from acting and focused on an entirely new career with a move into teaching.

She qualified from a teaching course but has now moved into therapy, and qualified as a Dramatherapist in 2022.

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She's also built out her career with other qualifications, including training to become a Celebrant with The Order Of Bards, Ovates and Druids.

Working as a Family Celebrant, Ursula conducts baby naming, Civil Partnership, funeral, memorial, wedding ceremonies and renewal of vows.

Her website explains: "All proceeds from Ursula’s work as a Celebrant are gifted to her chosen charity: Compassion in World Farming."

Ursula's last on screen role was in 2017 as a Clerk in the TV mini-series In the Dark.

The former actress also looks worlds away from her on-screen role as Alice Dingle, who was known for her short fiery red hair.

Now Ursula has light brown hair shaped into a bob, looking drastically different to her Emmerdale character.

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