Emmerdale actress Sally Dexter has confessed she felt like she was "walking out on her family", as she bowed out of the role for good this month.
Her character Faith Dingle passed away in harrowing scenes, as she took her own life amid her battle with cancer.
Faith died in her heartbroken son Cain Dingle's arms, while her daughter Chas didn't get the chance to say goodbye.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror at the Inside Soap Awards, actress Sally revealed her sadness at leaving the show, as she and her co-stars are incredibly close.
She said it was like "walking out on them", but said she would remain in touch with her fellow cast following her exit.
Sally told us: "It was like walking out on the family. It was like dying and leaving your family, but I know where they live!"
On the reaction from viewers to her incredible exit episode, Sally revealed it was an "honour" to portray something that matters to so many people.
She revealed: "It's been extraordinary. It's been much more than I could possibly imagine.
"It's just been an honour to do it. I have had so many people who have had parents or family or friends in that situation, and it's meant something to them. It really matters, it's a life and death situation."
Sally also teased about her future roles as she revealed she had "something coming up", but remained coy over the details.
The actress was happy to kick off the soap's 50th anniversary month, with Faith's death being the first big storyline of the milestone birthday.
But the star confessed she'd have liked to have featured during the big stunt week as it "looked fun".
She told us: "It was just great to kick the whole thing off. It is such an extraordinary team of people, it's very, very special. I think the 50th will do it justice."
Sally added: "It did look fun! I've got to say those wind machines, it's one of my favourite things to just throw myself against a strong wind, if I had an umbrella I could be like Mary Poppins!
"And Cownado… I am very fond of cows. I know none of them got hurt in the making of that programme, they were very careful. They probably got better looked after than some of the actors."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
