Emmerdale star quits acting to become a teacher in unexpected career move

15 August 2023 , 10:29

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Adele Silva turned her back on fame for a teaching career (Image: Getty Images)

An Emmerdale actress once dubbed the "sexiest soap star" turned her back on fame to become a teacher in a surprising career move.

Adele Silva, 42, switched professions after she came under the spotlight for playing Kelly Windsor in the ITV soap. Having been part of dramatic storylines including a number of affairs, she is now working as a teacher at the National Film and Television School. Adele was part of the soap from 1993 to 2011 and also made an appearance in Hollyoaks in 2015.

However, the star gave up acting in Emmerdale following her pregnancy with her eight-year-old daughter Sienna. After suffering three miscarriages, Adele wanted to give full attention to her child and decided not to return for her on-screen sister's final scenes in the soap. Her character's first appearance came when she was introduced as Viv and Vic Windsor's daughter.

Adele played Kelly Windsor in the soap (PA)

The actress quit fame to spend time with her daughter (@silvaliningx/Instagram)

Kelly became swept up into a series of controversial storylines, including dating her teacher, having an affair with her stepbrother and taking a drug overdose. Adele took a five year break from 2000 to 2005 but as she returned, character Kelly began a relationship with Jimmy King. Things took a turn for the worst in 2007 on their wedding day after Jimmy discovered she had aborted their unborn baby to secure a modelling contract.

Heartbroken Kelly fled the village. In real life, Adele switched the Yorkshire Dales for Los Angeles in a bid to become a movie star. However, it was revealed that the actress was working as a shop assistant on Melrose Avenue instead. She was pictured cleaning windows while working in a Ted Baker store. "I never, ever said I was going to crack Hollywood," she insisted during a 2011 interview.

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"I was taking time out, travelling and living in New York and Los Angeles. I knew the manager and as I love clothes, I thought it would be a nice way to meet people because it's hard to make friends in a place like LA. It can be isolating. I did a drama course for the same reason." She said she wasn't working in the shop because she was strapped for cash, adding: "At the time I thought 'Hold on a second! I'm renting a car, an apartment, I'm paying utilities - how do you think working in a shop one day a week is going to finance that?

"I'd been putting money aside for ages for a travel fund - that's how I managed to survive for 18 months. I've worked since I was eight and I just wanted to go travelling and be free. I didn't have any work lined up for a bit, I had no ties and when I got my visa I booked a ticket. I saw it as a big adventure." In 2011, she decided to return once more to Emmerdale for a brief stint.

Just last year, Adele teased another return to the village. She told The Sun : "I’d definitely go back if they asked me. Obviously Kelly’s son is there and she’s not seen him for years. Then there’s little April. You can imagine Marlon’s face if her auntie Kelly turned up. He’d be horrified. My little girl is a bit older now. She’s happy and settled, it’s been great spending time at home with her being a mum."

Mia O'Hare