Emmerdale’s Ruby is the epitome of the perfect soap character and she keeps getting better

Duncan Lindsay

Published January 17, 2025 7:00am

Emmerdale character Ruby Fox-Miligan looking baffled — Queen Ruby – an icon! (Picture: ITV)

When a character comes in with a minx-like attitude, acerbic one-liners and a nature that makes you wonder if she’s just here to wreck lives, it can be a risk – very easily a newcomer like this can put viewers right off.

But from day one, Emmerdale – not to mention acclaimed actress Beth Cordingly – have nailed Ruby Fox-Miligan.

Quite honestly – and I am taking no debate on this – Queen Ruby is easily one of the best soap characters to debut in years.

She’s the epitome of a classic soap female – feisty and hilarious, trouble to the core, but with a strong vulnerability that gives her so many dimensions.

This week, as if she hadn’t already, she sealed her place as a beloved character we are rooting for.

She may have been a schemer – and probably still is – intent on antagonising Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) at first.

And she could so easily have left viewers enraged at her forever after her ill-advised liaison with Cain (Jeff Hordley).

But the hard-hitting storyline which has revealed that she suffered sexual abuse as a child at the hands of her vile dad Anthony (Nicholas Day) has really dug deep into reasons behind Ruby’s defensive nature.

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Anthony Fox looks at his daughter Ruby Fox-Miligan in Emmerdale — Anthony abused Ruby when she was just a child (Picture: ITV)

Ruby’s reaction to her dad’s arrival was caustic from the start, and viewers knew something was up. We were also concerned by her relationship with daughter Steph (Georgia Jay), who she broke ties with when she was just a teenager.

As the revelation was revealed to viewers, we saw Ruby’s character totally exposed and Beth has brought in such a nuanced and multi-faceted way to her alter-ego.

Like many, I have been in bits watching her trying to navigate her painful history – and also opening up about it.

Going back through earlier scenes of Ruby ripping others down, there was clearly more to it – her front was one built through a lack of self-esteem that evil Anthony bestowed upon her from a young age.

Caleb and Ruby speak in Mill Cottage in Emmerdale — Caleb is one of the few males Ruby feels safe around (Picture: ITV)

And her latching on desperately to her marriage to Caleb (William Ash) is a clear indication that she needs the love and acceptance so many have failed to provide her, particularly male figures in her life.

Ruby’s life has been in freefall, which is mostly the reason for what happened with Cain, an action she regrets.

I have loved Ruby from word go – I have a real penchant for hilariously bitchy soap characters – but now that we have seen so many iterations of her, I am firmly of the stance that there are few TV characters who have made such an impact on me of late.

Cain and Ruby kiss in the garage in Emmerdale — Ruby’s liaison with Cain was regrettable – but it came from a traumatic place (Picture: ITV)

Ruby Fox-Miligan looking troubled as she glances at a photo in Emmerdale — We are lucky to be blessed with such an icon (Picture: ITV)

Written sublimely, Emmerdale has taken its time with developing Ruby, letting us get to know her more vicious side first, even landing her nominations for villain awards.

Now, it’s difficult to recall a time when she could be hated, as valid as that was at the time.

I am behind her all the way, and that’s what drives a truly successful soap character into our memories.

For as long as she stays at Emmerdale – and I pray it is years to come as there is still so much to find out and explore – we are lucky to be blessed with such an icon.

When we are handed a soap character of such perfection, it reminds us of the glorious nature of soap, which can build a character up over years and even decades, something no other TV drama has the time to do.