EMMERDALE star Roxy Shahidi has admitted she struggled filming intimate scenes on the soap.

The actress – who played Leyla Harding in the ITV soap – has broken her silence on how she felt filming sexy scenes.

Speaking to former co-star Matthew Wolfenden, Roxy opened up about how she felt having to kiss her co-stars – and it’s safe to say she’s not a fan.

Matthew said: “They decided to try to put David and Leyla back together — do you remember? — and we had to do a kissy scene.

“It was the weirdest thing, wasn’t it?

“Because it’s alright when you’re doing those scenes with… (people you don’t know so well).”

She said on their podcast The Celebrity Side Hustle Roxy said: “I really struggle with them, because I am someone, and I know it sounds daft as an actor because people listening will be saying, ‘It’s your job’.

“It is, and you do get on with it, but for me personally, I’m so weird about personal space.

“I’ve just never felt comfortable with it.”

She added: “It’s always made me anxious.

“I always get a bit awkward, but the best way I found to deal with it is to almost choreograph it like a dance.”

The actress left the show in 2024, and bowed out after her character, Leyla was killed in the tragic limo crash.

A source close to the telly star said at the time: “Roxy has adored her time on the soap and has made so many happy memories since first joining when she was 17.

“The cast have become like family to her and she has grown so much as an actress, but now feels like the perfect time to spread her wings and try something new.

“She is really excited about her meaty exit storyline, which will see her character Leyla die on screen.

“She’d rather go out in a blaze of glory and be remembered.”