Another Emmerdale detective caught our eye as recently as she began investigating Nate Robinson’s death. DS Walsh, played by Amanda Ryan, has been in just about everything!

From Coronation Street to EastEnders and even a Hollywood film, Amanda is no stranger to our screens.

Here’s all we know about her.

Ruby is ready to tell the police everything (Credit: ITV)

Who plays the detective investigating Nate’s death in Emmerdale?

DS Walsh is leading the investigation into the body in the lake. At first Ruby Miligan confessed it was her father, Anthony Fox, and exposed herself as the killer.

DS Walsh is played by Amanda Ryan. Born in London in October 1971, 53-year-old Amanda trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
DS Walsh’s attentions turn to Tracy next week (Credit: ITV)

DS Walsh investigates in Emmerdale

Ruby Miligan was horrified when it was revealed a body had surfaced in the lake. Not knowing where John Sugden has buried her father’s body after she suffocated him, she was convinced the corpse must have been Anthony.

Desperate to protect her family and tell her side of the story first, she hot-footed it to the police station and confessed to her crime.

But Joe Tate was able to save the day, pay a contact abroad to pretend to be Anthony and clear Ruby’s name. And then the body was identified as Nate Robinson.

Walsh was soon knocking on Tracy’s door and then Cain’s to reveal the tragic news Nate’s corpse had been found. And both Cain and Tracy’s names were in the frame.

Cain beat Nate up on the day he disappeared so is a prime suspect. And Tracy was using dead Nate’s credit card, plus had his phone hidden in Frankie’s playhouse. But we all know John Sugden – the real killer – planted that.

Tonight, the Emmerdale detective attends Nate’s funeral, sitting at the back, but making her presence felt. She is determined to catch the killer and expose their guilt and hopes someone will slip up at the funeral. But will she catch her man?
Emmerdale star Amanda Ryan has been in Hollywood films (Credit: ITV)

Amanda Ryan and her film past

So who is actress Amanda Ryan then? Amanda has been in plenty of films and TV shows since her arrival on the acting scene. Her most notable role came in 1998 Oscar winning film Elizabeth. The movie starred Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I. Amanda played Lettice Howard, the fictional lover of the Duke of Norfolk.

She has also appeared in film Metroland as well as Red Mercury and 2015’s Anti-social.
Amanda Ryan as abused Mel Sinclair in Casualty (Credit: BBC)

The Emmerdale detective is no stranger to Soapland!

As for TV appearances, Amanda is no stranger to soap! She was in EastEnders in 2007 as Mad May’s sister, Verity. She also had a role in Coronation Street as a doctor in 2015 who gave Gail’s husband Michael bad news about his health.

In Channel 4 series Shameless, Amanda played police officer Carrie Rogers. Carrie was an aggressive cop not afraid to use brute force to get answers, or seduce anyone who might get her into trouble. She was revealed as a crooked cop later in the series and eventually left in season six after getting a promotion.

She was also in the 2002 adapation of The Forsythe Saga playing Holly. Other credits include Doctors, This is Going to Hurt, The Marlowe Sessions, Midsommer Murders and Lewis.

Most recently, Amanda starred in six episodes of Casualty as Mel Sinclair. Forming part of the huge exit for Charlie Fairhead in the boxset A History of Violence in 2024, Mel was the abused wife of police officer Harry Sinclair. Charlie was eventually the one who helped save her life after she went missing following a car accident with her husband.