'Emmerdale' star Michelle Hardwick went to police over online abuse

Emmerdale’s Michelle Hardwick has revealed she had to go to the police after online trolls said they wanted her to die.

The actor – who is best known for playing Vanessa Woodfield on the ITV soap – said she sought help when things came to a head a couple of years ago, reported Digital Spy.

Hardwick, who has a child with her wife Kate Brooks, said she didn’t receive abuse over the fact she is in a relationship with a woman.

Read more: Emmerdale's Michelle Hardwick pregnant as she and wife expecting first child

But the messages were still bad enough that she had to take it to the police.

Speaking at the Silver Pride festival, she said: “[They] just wanted me to die and things like that. They didn't mention because I was gay or anything like that.

“But the police were fantastic."

Hardwick, 45, said when it comes to trolls she tells herself that they are bored and not that malicious.

"I always think to myself, it could be your bank manager, it could be the person who works at your local florist. It's probably not, but it could be," she said. "That is the thing, nobody knows."

The star said even though she could quit social media to avoid the issue, most people online are lovely and it is just a minority who are abusive.

Read more: Emmerdale star 'lives with fear' she will be victim of homophobic attack

Hardwick tied the knot with soap producer Brooks at Graceland in Memphis in 2019.

The pair welcomed their first child together – a son named Teddy – in October last year.

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