Emmerdale stars Georgia Jay and Beth Cordingly have been putting in amazing performances over the last few months as mum and daughter Ruby and Steph Miligan – but have often left fans wondering if they are related in real-life.

As Steph struggles to come to terms with the truth about her parentage, she is having serious body issues. Despite the fact even she said how alike she is to her mum, all Steph can see is evil abuser Anthony.

But is the likeness between on-screen mum and daughter more than just excellent casting? Are Georgia and Beth actually related in real life? We have the answers you’ve been looking for.

Ruby and Caleb’s estranged daughter Steph turned up in the village in November last year. She was there for her inheritance from her grandmother and then she was gone for good. Caleb was desperate for her to stay, but it was very clear there was a whole lot of family history to unpack here. And, she was absolutely not over her messy childhood.

When Ruby and Steph then reunited, things were tense. Ruby ended up slapping Steph as things got heated. They managed to make up and Steph agreed to stick around – on the proviso her grandad – Ruby’s estranged father – could stay too.

Ruby was forced to agree, despite it being obvious there was something awful between her and her dad. No one noticed, everyone thought Ruby was sour after Anthony had kicked her out for getting pregnant at 16.

But viewers were sure there was more to it. We eventually had our suspicions confirmed when it was revealed Anthony had sexually abused Ruby. Things got even sicker when we then discovered Anthony and not Caleb was Steph’s biological father.

Anthony killed by Ruby in Emmerdale

Caleb found the paternity test results and demanded answers. But Ruby was still unable to confess her secret torment and it caused the couple to split.

But before too long Chas had worked out the truth and Aaron also saw it. Anthony was confronted by several locals with Aaron losing his temper and beating Anthony to a pulp. After confinding in John, Aaron returned with his partner to get Anthony help, but they discovered he was dead.

As John set about doing an expert clean-up, what was then revealed was that in fact Ruby had found her dad alive and finished him off. The Anthony murder club, consisting of Ruby, Caleb, Aaron, John, Chas and Cain have since been determined to cover the death up.

But Steph was suspicious and wouldn’t let it go. She found a gun in Caleb’s safe and decided to report her parents to the police. But Caleb confessed he had killed Anthony and agreed to hand himself in.

Steph finds out everything – and struggles to cope

Unable to bear all the lies, Ruby told Steph everything. It left her completely blindsided and she has been totally unable to cope.

This week, Steph confided in Ruby all she can see when she looks in the mirror is Anthony. She then shared how she knows she looks like her mum – same hair, same face and all, but she can’t help seeing her grandfather/father.

And fans have often thought the same about the pair whenever they are together on-screen.

One viewer wrote: on social media “Great casting of Steph! She looks just like Ruby!” While another added: “If not related, it’s good the writers found a lookalike actress who can also act like Ruby. She seems just as fiery as her mum, extended family to the Dingles.”

A third asked: “Is the actress who plays Ruby’s daughter any relation to her as the resemblance to Ruby is uncanny?”

A fourth replied to the question: “She even sounds like her.”

So, are Emmerdale actresses Georgia Jay and Beth Cordingly aka Steph and Ruby related in real life?

The answer is no. This is just brilliant casting by Emmerdale! Bravo to the casting team on this one.

Steph is played by newcomer Georgia Jay, who has previously had a two-episode role in 2019 BBC drama Giri/Haji. She also had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in Silent Witness.

For now Georgia is getting her teeth into the role of Steph, who fans now think has turned a corner and might just become an Emmerdale favourite.

The future for Steph is uncertain. Despite Ruby and Caleb’s best efforts to help her through, she can’t have counselling thanks to the small matter of being complicit in covering up Anthony’s murder. And now she’s looking at plastic surgery websites to try and change her appearance.

How can she find her feet now her whole world has changed? And with sneaky Jai desperate to find out what’s gone on so he can use it to his advantage, how long before Steph cracks?

Does Beth Cordingly have children?

Despite the fact the Steph and Ruby Emmerdale actresses are not related in real life, Beth Cordingly does have a daughter, whose face and name she has not shared since she was a baby.

The actress does regularly give updates on her child on social media, but her girl is much younger than Georgia having turned 11 in June 2024.

Beth is dating former Emmerdale star Ian Kelsey, who played Dave Glover on the soap in the 90s. He is not the father of her little girl, that is Beth’s former husband, theatre producer Adam Speers.