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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katherine Heslop

Emmerdale's Natalie Anderson renews vows in surprise ceremony in the Maldives

Ex- Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has renewed her vows with her husband in a top secret romantic ceremony in the Maldives.

In fact, the plan was so hush hush that husband James Shepherd did not find out until last minute, and their son Freddie was the only guest.

Speaking about the ceremony to HELLO! Natalie, 40, who was also in Hollyoaks, said: "How James didn't know is beyond me."

The brunette beauty coordinated a plan with Freddie, nine, which involved him giving a special letter to his dad, to get him to the idyllic ceremony, which took place on the beach, in time.

She revealed how the letter invited James to re-promise themselves to each other.

Natalie with husband James and son Freddie during their trip to the Maldives (natjanderson/Instagram)
The star shared this bikini snap from her holiday (natjanderson/Instagram)

"It was so magical and so intimate with it just being the three of us. It was absolutely perfect and all I dreamt it would be," the star said of the day.

The picture perfect vow renewal took place last week, days before their wedding anniversary.

The actress wore a gown by Modeca, Dutch bridal designer.

"I knew I wanted something that was simple, that I could wear without shoes, that was beachy with a lovely silhouette and just different to my wedding dress," she said.

Natalie has been on our TV screens for many years (WireImage)
Her holiday in the Maldives looked idyllic (natjanderson/Instagram)

On Instagram, the performer shared snaps from her amazing holiday, saying the trip had been "everything we hoped it would be."

Natalie and health and fitness project manager James, 50, wed 14 years ago in North Yorkshire.

The soap star still has the the Pronovias silk and Swarovski-beaded and lace dress, complete 8ft cathedral train, which she wore on the big day.

Natalie is set make her big screen debut when she appears in Liam Neeson action thriller Memory, which also stars cinema legend Monica Bellucci.

Natalie Anderson as her Emmerdale character Alicia in 2013 (ITV/ Amy Brammall)

She is known for her roles as Stella Davenport in The Royal, a medical drama, from 2005 to 2008 and Alicia Metcalfe in Emmerdale from 2010 to 2015.

In April last year, she revealed that her Emmerdale character was based on glamour model and media personality Katie Price.

The performer has revealed how the late Emmerdale producer Gavin Blyth what he wanted Alicia to be like when he approached Natalie for the part, having known her from when they both worked on ITV medical drama The Royal.

Natalie told The Sun: "He said 'The heels need to be higher than high. The skirts need to be shorter than short. She needs to have attitude. She needs to be brash.

"'We want that kind of aggressive almost, Katie Price, brash exterior, and then we'll get to know her a bit later on.'

"I went: 'Oh, I don't think I can do this!' - I think you do have to hit the ground running, and it was scary for me."

Thankfully for Natalie, Alicia proved to be a hit and she stayed in the Yorkshire-based soap for five years.

Since last year, she has been regularly appearing on Hollyoaks as Lexi Calder.

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