NEVER DO: Emmerdale actress Rebecca Sarker shares HEARTBREAKING STORY about role in ITV soap

Emmerdale actress Rebecca Sarker loves posing in cheeky outfits – after proud husband Rico convinced her to show off her sizzling figure on social media.

But unlike her character Dr Manpreet Sharma, who posted racy snaps on a fictional subscription site, the soap star says she would not strip off for OnlyFans.

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I like posting s3xy pics but I’d never go on OnlyFans, says Rebecca SarkerCredit: Getty

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Rebecca Sarker was urged to show off her incredible figure on Instagram by her proud husbandCredit: Instagram/rebeccasarker
When Rebecca first joined the ITV soap, she would share behind-the-scenes pictures for her followers on social media — until Rico convinced her to be bolder.

In an exclusive interview, Rebecca, 50, says: “A few years ago I had been doing some stunt scenes for Emmerdale wearing Lycra pants and a sports bra.

“I sent a picture of me to my husband as I’d been doing some working out and I thought I looked quite good.

“He said, ‘Post it on Instagram’. My immediate reaction was, ‘No, no, I can’t post that’.

“But after checking with the production team asking if it was too outrageous, I was assured it wasn’t.”

Since then, Rebecca has regularly posted pics of herself in swimsuits and outfits showing off her fab figure.

She admits she loves it and is flying the flag for older women after getting such a positive reaction.

Rebecca says: “I’ve had a lot of really lovely responses — mainly from women.

“They have sent nice messages saying, ‘Yeah come on . . .  #strongwoman and #girlpower’.”

‘Nothing wrong with a bikini holiday snap’

Her posts have also attracted compliments from men describing her as “beautiful” — but Rebecca, who is mum to two boys aged 19 and 14, makes it very clear she is happily married.

Emmerdale episode sees Manpreet and and Ruby arrested

She says: “I think my posts are sufficiently tongue-in-cheek for people to know what I am doing.

“This is just a little sideline. This is fun and it works for me.

“I see my Instagram as like a brand. I won’t post any pictures of my family and friends unless they want me to.

“I like keeping fit. I try to go three times a week to either the gym or I go out cycling, and I did ITV’s The Games in 2022 too. This is me saying, ‘I like staying healthy’.

Manpreet was emotionally vulnerable when she set up her subscription account. She had a failed relationship behind her and needed a boost to her self-esteem

Rebecca

“There is nothing wrong with posting a bikini holiday snap on Instagram. It’s me being a bit cheeky, having some fun and it’s a chance to show I am happy in myself with how I look and happy being fit and healthy.”

It’s a far different story for Rebecca’s character.

In March, village GP Manpreet shared intimate pictures of herself after setting up a profile on a site called Fans Only.

But she was distraught when a mystery person threatened to expose her unless she handed over £5,000.

Mortified, Manpreet was forced to close the account down before discovering scheming businessman Joe Tate was behind the blackmail plot.

Rebecca says: “Manpreet was emotionally vulnerable when she set up her subscription account. She had a failed relationship behind her and needed a boost to her self-esteem.

“It was a lot of fun to play this storyline but there certainly wouldn’t be a blurring of fiction and reality for me, as Rebecca.”

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Rebecca’s posts have also attracted compliments from men describing her as ‘beautiful’Credit: Instagram/rebeccasarker

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There is nothing wrong with posting a bikini holiday snap on Instagram. It’s me being a bit cheeky, says RebeccaCredit: Instagram
But she adds with a laugh: “I wouldn’t say no to an Only Flans account, though — I love baking.”

This week viewers have seen the actress in another major storyline.

Manpreet finally discovered her sister Meena was a murderer after she killed three people in 2022.

She has also had a romance with vicar Charles Anderson and a one-night stand in April with bad boy Ross Barton — which led to her ending up in a police cell after a catfight with fiery Ruby Milligan, played by Beth Cordingly.

Ladies man Ross had also dated Ruby’s daughter Steph, who has now left the village for good.

Rebecca says: “Ruby is understandably very protective of her daughter and blames Manpreet’s one-night stand with Ross for Steph’s exit.

“When she saw Manpreet canoodling again with Ross on the doorstep, she put two and two together to get five.

“They had a fight that led to a night in a police cell together.

“But after learning more about each other’s past, they had a real 360 moment and it made them very mellow and sentimental. It was poignant, and soap drama at its best.”

I am Yorkshire born and bred and it feels like going home whenever I am on set

Rebecca

It is this kind of drama that has kept Rebecca loving her job and never experiencing the urge to leave after seven years on the soap.

She says: “I haven’t had the seven-year itch. I still love playing Manpreet just as much as I did when I joined.

“I love the fact every time I get a new story, it’s something completely different and it introduces another facet to her character. She is never one-dimensional.”

Rebecca — who has played two doctors on TV — grew up in Halifax, West Yorks, in a medical family.

She says there was never any pressure from GP dad Khaleque or mum Elizabeth, a nurse, to go down the medical route, and her dentist brother persuaded her to try acting.

Her first TV role, aged 23, was playing Nita Desai, part of Coronation Street’s first Asian family, in 1999.

She was a doctor in two episodes of EastEnders in 2007 before heading to Emmerdale.

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Soap fans are now speculating about whether Manpreet and Ruby will now become best friendsCredit: ITV

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The actress admits she is excited to take part in whatever comes next for her characterCredit: ITV
But despite growing up in Yorkshire, she now lives in Essex and does the 200-mile commute to the studios every week, returning to her family on a Friday night.

She admits that she was hesitant at first but her sons convinced her to take the job and it helped that her husband was able to work from home to be there for the boys.

Rebecca says: “I am Yorkshire born and bred and it feels like going home whenever I am on set. It’s such a beautiful environment to be in. You go where the work is. It’s a tough gig being an actor but it works very well and I am lucky to have a family that is so supportive while I am away.

“Actually, when I got the job, I didn’t think I could do it but my kids said, ‘Of course you can — don’t be ridiculous. We will make it work’.

‘Nobody is bigger than the show’

“I take my lead from them and if it ever felt too difficult or it was affecting them adversely I would have to rethink. But they are brilliant.

“They were 12 and seven when I joined and now they are 19 and 14 — so juggling has got a bit easier too.”

Soap fans are now speculating about whether Manpreet and Ruby will now become best friends.

Rebecca says: “These are two women who can be brutally honest with each other and say it as it is.

“Ruby has never had that before. Their connection is now too strong to dissipate.”

The actress admits she is excited to take part in whatever comes next for her character.

Rebecca says: “I love seeing her develop. She has some great lines and I hope viewers think she is real and plausible.

“I do feel she has more to offer but obviously nobody is bigger than the show.

“If my time ever comes up, so be it, and I have had a wonderful time.

“But I love it on Emmerdale. I am proud to be a part of it.”