Sammy Winward 12th British Soap Awards

Sammy Winward attends the British Soap Awards at The London Television Centre in London. Also in attendance were Gemma Merna, Helen Flanagan, Samia Smith.

Credit: Pilgrimpopper

Sammy and Amy Real Life Sister Act

Bolton-born soap star Sammy Winward has spoken about life with a big sister as part of a magazine feature on sibling rivalry.

The Emmerdale actress talks in the June issue of Cosmopolitan about how her relationship with 26-year-old Amy has influenced her life.

Former Turton High School pupil Sammy, aged 24, who plays Katie Sugden in the soap, says they have very different personalities.


But despite rivalry as children, they are now best friends and Amy, who is an accountant, was even present when Sammy’s daughter, Mia, was born five years ago.

Sammy said: “I love Amy.

She’s funny, loyal and great to go out with. She is intelligent and worked really hard at school and university. Amy was the naughty one and I was the goody two-shoes.

Despite that, she’d still play the big-sister card and grass me up — like the time she caught me smoking, even though she’d smoked before.

“She’s very protective too, and not just with me. She’d always be involved in fights at school trying to help the underdog.” Sammy added: “Amy is really competitive, and our worst argument happened in our early teens when I beat her at a computer game. She hit me with the control and I threw it back at her and accidentally burst her lip. I had to lock myself in my room for hours until she calmed down.”

Amy also values their relationship.

“We’re really close as sisters,”

she said. “Sammy is a lot more chilled out than me, so it’s a nice balance. I was very protective of her when she was younger. She was picked on a bit at school, so I’d go and meet her at the school gate to make sure she was OK.

“We used to argue lots when we were younger, but we respect each other now.”

The edition also features Harwood-based Corrie star, Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster) speaking about life as the ‘middle child’.’

Credit: BoltonNews

Sammy Winward Fabulous Magazine

Sammy Winward appeared in the latest issue of Fabulous Magazine along with fellow soapstars Helen Flanagan and Tiana Benamin

She's got a new love and a new outlook on life - Sammy Winward, 24, Emmerdale's Katie Sugden, tells us the secrets of her new-found sex appeal.

Talk to Sammy Winward about killer heels, designer garb and the latest mascara and you'll meet a blank stare. She might be Emmerdale's sexiest star (that'll be her blonde locks and cheerleader good looks), but being girlie doesn't kick it for this Bolton lass. Yes, she's done the obligatory lads' mag shoot but that was, she says, a mistake.

"I don't need loads of make-up or slick styling to think that I look good. Sexy for me is about not trying too hard," she says, perched on the edge of a leather couch, make-up free and wearing a blue chequered shirt. But like any woman, she still enjoys a bit of pampering, and the transformation into sexy starlet for our shoot makes a nice change from her off-duty look.

"If people saw me in the street, I doubt they'd think I was the hottest girl around!

"I feel sexiest when I'm happy and content about life. Right now, I'm in a good place with work and relationships. The balance is good and everything feels like it's finally fallen into place."

Just like her character's tendency for botched relationships, Sammy's love life has had soap-opera-style highs and lows.

"I'm very mature in the way I deal with break-ups," admits Sammy, who has a four-year-old daughter, Mia, with Blackburn Rovers footballer David Dunn, 30. "My mum says she's never met anyone who can move on like I can, but I've got more to think about than tears. I generally see the positives when relationships finish. They end for a reason.

"I've never cheated on anyone or been cheated on, but my character gives me an insight into relationships. Maybe that's why I cope so well when my own break down - it feels like I've been there and done that."

Sammy split from David in September 2005, then dated Robin Hood actor Jonas Armstrong, 29, for two years before work commitments drove them apart. Last August she was caught snogging current boyfriend, actor James Sutton, 27, her on-screen lover Ryan Lamb. The couple live apart, but she prefers it as it means more time with Mia.

"Mia puts my life into perspective," says Sammy who lives in a 600-year-old, four-bed house in Bolton, Lancashire. "I love nothing more than getting into our pyjamas, making popcorn, climbing into my bed and cuddling up in front of a film."

She won't flaunt it, but Sammy's more confident than ever about her size-8 body. And it's gone through quite a transformation.

"Before the pregnancy I was 8st and afterwards I dropped to 7st, which was too low for my 5ft 6in frame. I was breastfeeding and caring for a new baby so the weight fell off. Now, I'm 8st 3lb and I feel sexier," she says.

Green-eyed monsters look away now. It's been a year since Sammy exercised and she admits she's a sucker for takeaways. So what's her secret to keeping trim?

"I eat a balanced diet, and if I have a bad day I'll have a good day the next. I'm naturally slender but I don't know if it'll be the same in a few years time!"

Credit: NOTW, firkinhell and ray22uk

Sammy Winward @ Childrens Awards

Sammy Winward at the Childrens Champions 2010 awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London, also at the event were Louisa Lytton, Zoe Salmon and Christine Bleakley

Sammy Winward @ NTA 2010

Sammy Winward Emmerdale

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Sammy Winward Emmerdale

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Credit: Snoop