Welsh Emmerdale star unrecognisable after 12 years as she launches unusual career move
Sian Reese-Williams is best known for playing Gennie Walker on Emmerdale, in a role which saw her become a fan favourite - but she looks very different now
Welsh Emmerdale star unrecognisable after 12 years as she launches unusual career move
(Image: ITV )
Emmerdale's beloved Sian Reese-Williams looks quite different a dozen years on from her character Gennie Walker's dramatic demise.
Welsh actress Sian rose to prominence portraying Gennie in the ITV soap, joining the cast in 2008. Gennie arrived in the Dales as Brenda Walker's (Lesley Dunlop) adoptive daughter.
She quickly became a hit with viewers. Gennie was central to numerous major plots, including a string of unsuccessful romances before finding happiness with Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem).
Tragically, in 2013, Gennie met her end when killer Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) killed her to hide his previous murder of Carl King (Tom Lister).
Sian joined the soap in 2008
(Image: ITV )
Post-Emmerdale, Sian has been a regular on our screens, featuring in Netflix's Requiem and Holby City, as well as playing Sgt. Jane Cafferty in BBC's Line of Duty, reports Belfast Live.
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In 2024, Sian unveiled her new artistic endeavour as a potter. She shared on X: "Hello. I make pottery now. I'll be selling these from next Friday so if you fancy a one-off piece of loveliness to brighten your January, head over to my insta."
Sian also graced the Celebrity Side Hustles podcast in May, hosted by her ex-Emmerdale colleagues Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden.
The character was killed off
(Image: ITV )
Discussing her foray into pottery, Sian disclosed: "As I was finishing series three of Hidden [a Welsh television drama that aired from 2018 to 2021], I knew it was going to be a real loss in my life.
"Because A.) as an actor to have something that is even remotely constant is such a luxury and you just want to hold on to it and B.) I was proud of the show and loved it, and I'd had quite a rough few years, like life, it had been hard."
After discovering a six-week pottery course in Cardiff, Sian decided to give it a go and found herself "completely obsessed" with the craft.
The actress has switched up her hair
"I just wanted something to have in the diary, because I hadn't cracked that downtime thing," she explained.
Sian went on to say: "I've been really lucky in that for a long time I've been able to live on my acting work, but there are some years that's only just happening but there are other years where it's a bit nicer.
"And that is wonderful, but it also means you have huge amounts of time on your hands when you're not working and it can be six months, a year, who knows?".
She is now a potter
(Image: IG )
Discussing how she utilised her free time, Sian mentioned: "I'd spent like a year out of work therefore that meant I spent every day of the year learning pottery and making it and I got quite good at it."
This new venture turned out to be a positive move. She remarked: "So over the last year I've been working towards making it a business. It's a learning curve but it's so nice to have something else I'm passionate about."
The soap actress has even begun to profit from her newfound pottery skills. She revealed: "I do little markets and I've started making things for restaurants, because I love food and I love boogie restaurants."
Moreover, in addition to her new career, Sian also appears completely transformed. Her Emmerdale character was recognised for her glossy and sleek bob.
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However, she now sports a different hairstyle - with Sian flaunting longer and wavy tresses that are a much lighter shade of brown.
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
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