In a revealing interview on Lorraine, Lisa Riley, who portrays Mandy

Dingle in Emmerdale, opened up about a significant milestone in her

life—celebrating nine years of sobriety. During the conversation with host Ranvir

Singh on August 15, Riley shared how she once used alcohol as a way to cope with the overwhelming grief of losing her mother. She confessed that during her darkest times, she relied on two bottles of Malbec a night just to get some sleep.

As Riley approaches her nine-year sobriety anniversary on Monday, she reflected on the profound changes in her life since quitting alcohol. She expressed pride in her journey, admitting that she never imagined she’d reach this point. The actress emphasized that she prefers the person she has become now that she’s sober, describing her former self as “fake” and vowing never to return to that place.

Riley also touched on recent dramatic events in Emmerdale, particularly the near-cancellation of Paddy and Mandy Dingle’s wedding after it was revealed that Mandy had been working as an online dominatrix. Despite the scandal, the couple did eventually tie the knot in an emotional ceremony. Looking ahead, Riley teased that Mandy’s storyline is far from over, hinting that viewers can expect even more wild and unpredictable developments in the future.

This interview offers a glimpse into the personal struggles and triumphs of one of Emmerdale‘s beloved stars while setting the stage for more drama in the show’s upcoming episodes.