Verity Rushworth
Verity Charlotte Rushworth (born 15 August 1985) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Donna Windsor in the ITV soap opera "Emmerdale" from 1998 to 2009, with a guest appearance in 2014. She has played many theatre roles throughout the UK, including two leading roles in West End theatre productions. From 2020 to 2021, she appeared in the BBC medical soap opera "Doctors" as Lily Walker. Life and career. Rushworth attended St. Mary's Catholic High School, Menston. In 1997, Rushworth had small roles in ITV television programmes such as "Heartbeat", and in  1998, at the age of 12, she took on her most notable role, Donna Windsor in the ITV soap opera "Emmerdale". She took the role over from Sophie Jeffery, who played the part from 1993 to 1997. After appearing on "Emmerdale" for over 10 years, Rushworth filmed her final scenes at the end of 2008 which were later aired in January 2009. From 2 February 2009, she made her West End debut in the role of Penny Pingleton in a production of "Hairspray", taking over the role from Elinor Collett. Rushworth then played the leading role of Maria von Trapp  in the 2011 UK tour of The Sound of Music, before taking on the role of Velma in Chicago at Curve Theatre, Leicester from November 2013 to January 2014. On 6 January 2014, it was announced that Rushworth would be returning to "Emmerdale" to reprise the role of Donna, after a five-year-absence. Rushworth began filming in February, and returned on screen on 19 March 2014. It was announced that she would be back as Donna for 5 months and departed on 15 August 2014. She shared the role of Holly Golightly with Pixie Lott during the 2016 tour  of the "Breakfast at Tiffany's". She then appeared in the West End production of "Kinky Boots" until from 2017 to 2018. In June 2020, she began appearing in the BBC soap opera "Doctors" as receptionist Lily Walker, making her final appearance in February 2021.