Amy Nuttall on Navigating Personal Challenges: 'I've Coped with Things I Never Imagined'

Amy Nuttall, known for her roles in "Emmerdale" and "Downton Abbey," has shared personal reflections on her home life and her capacity for resilience in a recent interview with 1883 magazine. The 44-year-old actress described herself as the "glue that holds her family together" and stated that she has "coped with things she never imagined she could cope with."

This period of personal difficulty for Nuttall has included the aftermath of her husband, actor Andrew Buchan's, affair with his "Better" co-star Leila Farzad in late 2022. The affair led to a temporary separation for the couple, though they are now believed to have reconciled. Nuttall and Buchan have two children whose details are kept private.

Nuttall also spoke about the recent loss of her mother, Elaine, in 2023, who died at age 68 after a four-month battle with glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Nuttall described her mother as her primary support system and reflected on discovering her own inner strength in the wake of this loss.

"The last few years have been difficult, particularly because I lost my best friend, my dear mum, to a glioblastoma brain tumour," Nuttall said. "She was always my crutch when the chips were down, and suddenly I didn’t have that person anymore."

She added, "I think what has surprised me is discovering that I can cope with things that I never imagined I would have to cope with. I hope my mum would be proud of how I’ve handled losing her and how I’m carrying on. She was such a huge source of strength for me, and perhaps I’ve discovered that some of that strength was in me all along."

Nuttall's current role in the Channel 5 adaptation of Graham Norton's novel "Forever Home" features her character, Carol, who also serves as the emotional core of her on-screen family. Nuttall drew parallels between her character and her own life, noting the instinctual drive to maintain family unity.

"I think, perhaps this is a slightly stereotypical thing to say, but as a mum I do think there can be something very instinctive about wanting to be the glue that holds a family together," Nuttall explained. "It certainly was the case in my family, and I feel I’ve taken on that role too."

Her past television roles have also explored complex relationships, including her character Ethel Parks in "Downton Abbey," who experienced an affair, an illegitimate child, and societal ostracization. In "Emmerdale," her character Chloe Atkinson was involved in deceitful plotlines involving affairs and a faked pregnancy.

Nuttall and Buchan married in 2012. Reports of Buchan's infidelity surfaced in late 2022, with Nuttall reportedly confronting him after seeing social media photos and discovering he had stayed in a hotel near their home while claiming to be working away. A friend of Nuttall's told the Daily Mail at the time that the confrontation "must have been the most difficult thing Amy has ever had to do." Another source described Nuttall as "heartbroken."

Following the revelations, reports indicated that Farzad had returned to her own husband. In March, Nuttall was reported to have sought a divorce. However, by June, Buchan was seen leaving their family home wearing his wedding ring, with insiders suggesting the couple was attempting to reconcile and "heal."