Away from Emmerdale, Beth Cordingly’s life couldn't be more different from her on-screen Dales alter-ego's13:13, 03 Aug 2026Updated 13:26, 03 Aug 2026Beth Cordingly is an Emmerdale favourite - but what do we know about her life away from the soap?‌Beth joined the soap back in 2024 - rocking up to the Dales as Ruby Fox-Miligan, the estranged wife of Caleb Miligan (William Ash). And it didn’t take her long to cause plenty of drama.‌In 2024, her abusive father Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day) rocked up and it was later revealed that he was the biological father of her daughter Steph (Georgia Jay). In a shocking turn of events, Anthony was brutally killed by Ruby - with several other villagers helping cover up the crime.‌Away from the soap though, actress Beth’s life couldn't be more different from her on-screen Dales alter-ego. Here’s everything we know about Beth Cordingly’s life...Beth's This Morning star linkBeth was born on 25 October 1976, making her 49 years old. She is originally from Brighton in Sussex, England. She attended the University of Birmingham and studied English and Drama there, but went on to train as an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.‌And it turns out she was good pals with This Morning star Ben Shephard while at uni. While on This Morning, the stars revealed they attended the University of Birmingham together, with Beth in the year below. Ben laughed as he shared: "It was like one big, happy family."As a picture of Ben flashed up on the screen of him attending a party at university age, Beth interjected: "You were this interesting mix because you were big in the rugby thing... It must have been some sort of 70s thing."Ben responded: "We had all of these incredibly talented actors and I was in the dance department, and it was just a brilliant and extraordinary time. It’s been amazing watching the likes of Beth, Elliot and Claudia go on and be sort of really acclaimed within their field. Really lovely, really special."‌Beth's TV appearancesBeth made her first major television appearance in the soap opera, Family Affairs, where she played Sara Warrington - a troubled teenager. A year after she left the show, she played the lead in Noël Coward's Semi-Monde at the Lyric Theatre, West End. She also starred as Rose, a cabinet secretary, in Two Men went to War.In 2002, Beth joined The Bill as PC Kerry Young. It was revealed that her character was murdered in 2004 after she left the show. An hour-long spin-off called Kerry's Story was then aired.‌Other TV appearances include Merlin, Casualty, EastEnders and The Burning Girls. In 2007, she played a sex worker alongside Billie Piper in ITV2’s Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.Beth's famous fatherBeth is the daughter of David Cordingly, a historian and writer. David has penned several books to do with pirates, and also appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.‌The writer starred in the DVD bonus features section called Below Deck, a virtual tour of a pirate ship. Beth previously gushed about her parents, telling Official London Theatre that her mum and dad inspire her.“My mum worked extensively in Child Protection in the 80s and 90s fighting for more recognition of it, helping to make people more aware of the signs to look for,” she shared.Talking about her famous dad, she added: “My dad is a writer with an incredibly strong work ethic. They’re my favourite people.”‌Meanwhile, discussing Beth and her famous family, one person wrote on an Emmerdale Facebook fan page: “Fun fact, Beth’s dad is the writer David Cordingly.” Someone else added: “Oh really.” A third chimed in: “A lovely family!” Another penned: “He was in the extras of Pirates of the Caribbean as well I believe.”Beth's split from exAs for Beth’s love life, she was married to Adam Speers, a stage director, who is among those behind ATG Productions. The company has produced shows like the revival of Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger, and Sunday in the Park with George, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal, both of which ran at the Savoy Theatre in the West End, in recent years‌Beth and Adam tied the knot in 2011 and later welcomed a daughter in 2013. In 2016 though, Beth and Adam announced their separation.Earlier this year, Beth took to her Instagram and hopped on the trend of sharing her memories from 2016. Beth uploaded a video showing some of her favourite snaps from ten years ago, particularly with her daughter.She penned: "2016 was such a huge year for me that it took me a while to look at the photos again as I was obliterated the first time round. Always in love with my girl. I did a play that changed my life because the character made me feel kicka** strong and then we decided to change our lives forever. (Then I finished the play and stopped playing the kick** part…and fell apart! but let’s not go there).‌“My dad had a huge operation, my dad got better. My kid started school, my kid had an operation, my kid got better. My friends put an arm around me while I laughed and cried."The actress continued: "I turned 40 and went to J Skeekey’s with girlfriends because I had always wanted to go there. I said goodbye to the last f*** I give. And for new year we took our kid to Disneyland despite being newly separated and we started a new way of living."I listened to this song ON REPEAT and it healed me because it is about making mistakes and learning. I think, maybe, that’s what life is about. The last ten years. It’s not always been easy but everyone is ok and we will keep trying".‌Beth and Emmerdale star's romanceBeth is currently dating Emmerdale star Ian Kelsey who fans may know for previously playing Dave Glover from 1994 to 1997, He also had a stint on Coronation Street as Vinny Ashford.The pair have reportedly known each other for over two decades and struck up a romance back in 2021. Since then, Beth has openly expressed that she is "very happy" and "so in love” with Ian.‌Beth previously said that the former soap star was ‘really supportive’ when she landed the role in Emmerdale and that he "wanted" her to do it.“There is that thing as an actor where you are always taken away from home," she said. "But he totally gets it. He knows a lot of the crew and cast and so it’s lovely to be able to share what I’ve been up to, knowing he understands."That’s important when you are away and he is always keen to find out how filming has gone each day. We are both very supportive of each other’s careers which is important when it is such a competitive industry."Article continues belowEmmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX