EMMA Atkins is one of the brightest stars in soapland at the moment, thanks to her richly diverse character, Charity Tate.

The past few months have seen her getting to know her long-lost daughter Debbie, then Charity's cousin, Cain, was revealed to the locals as the girl's father. Such dramatic fireworks look set to continue in the coming weeks as the pair play tug-of-war over their daughter.

Eventually, Charity has to let Debbie go, but is worried she has abandoned the teenager for a second time by allowing her to live with the Dingle clan. It's a typically complex storyline which seems par for the course in Charity's chaotic life.

For the uninitiated, the character started off in 2000 as a member of Emmerdale's most notorious family, had a lesbian affair with schizophrenic vet Zoe Tate and then married her lover's money-grabbing brother, Chris. The fact that she's still going strong as the man-eater with a troubled past is testament to her popularity with the audience.

One of the things that keeps Atkins, 28, hooked on the part is Charity's constant evolution. She explains: "Charity is forever changing. Her appearance, her personality is always different. It's a very interesting character to play. There's always trouble. There's times when she can handle it and times when she can't but it's fun to play.

"There's been a huge transition in the past couple of years from being an ex-prostitute to moving in with her millionaire boyfriend. She married him and had an affair with his sister, so she's been through a huge amount really. Skeletons forever falling out the closet," she laughs.

The actress has an infectious enthusiasm for her role. Even if you'd never seen Emmerdale, within minutes of meeting her Atkins would make you realise what you've been missing. While some people know from the outset they want to be actors, there was a pivotal moment in Atkins's life that made her realise she had the right stuff for stage and screen.

While at Our Lady's High School in Lancaster, one man changed her life.

"I was doing a school play called Dr Faustus and there was this fantastic teacher called Mr Leadbetter," she recalls. "He wasn't an actor but he took part in all the plays and he captivated the audience. He was someone everyone looked up to. He just grabbed me one night after the play and said, 'Don't you give this up, girl.'

"Looking back now I'll never forget that moment. I wasn't frightened of him, I was just a little in awe. I hope he knows that I'm in Emmerdale."

Atkins took his advice and studied drama at Salford University. She was a final year student when she went for the Emmerdale audition.

A fortnight went by and there was no news so she thought that was it.

"Then one day my agent called and said, 'Emma you've got the part.' I just went hysterical."

With six months left to complete her degree, she had to juggle assignments with learning her lines. Much midnight oil burning paid off and now she still can't believe her luck.

"I started off straight from university and I really didn't think I'd still be here now, three years on," she remarks with a smile. "I just thought a three-month contract would be a three-month contract."

The audience warmed to Charity and her troubled life from day one. It meant the scriptwriters had to work overtime to come up with ever richer storylines for her while the fanmail arrived by the sackload. "It's been a fantastic time," she enthuses. "I've had some really lovely letters and compliments."

Atkins admits her favourite Emmerdale storyline is the current one.

Does she believe Charity is cut out to be a mum? "I think she's just completely floored and whatever will happen will happen. From day one, she gave Debbie up for adoption and all of a sudden she came back. It was hard for her to even comprehend motherhood."

Working with 15-year-old Charley Webb, who plays Debbie, has given Atkins fresh inspiration for her much-troubled character. "This current story with Debbie is great and I love working with Charley," she says.

"We get on like sisters. She's a great actress. When I was that age I was rubbish," she laughs. "I just didn't have the sense of timing that Charley has. She's very mature for her age."

Atkins, who was born in Cumbria but now lives in Manchester, admits that working long hours did put a lot of strain on her relationship with an ex-boyfriend. The two-year relationship with the man she names only as John ended in spring last year. She then took a break from the dating game to concentrate on her career.

As for the future, Atkins is not looking much further than the end of the year. "My contract takes me up until December and it depends whether I want to stay or how things are at the time," she says.

Judging by Charity's grip on millions of Emmerdale addicts, she may grow bored of the character long before the fans do.

l Emmerdale is on ITV1, Monday to Friday