Emmerdale has never shied away from darkness, but its latest run of explosive storylines has plunged the Dales into one of its most harrowing chapters yet.

At the emotional center of the storm is Rhona Goskirk, played with raw intensity by Zoe Henry—a character pushed to the brink as secrets, fear, and violence collide.

As the ITV soap prepares to unravel a chilling whodunit surrounding the death of Ray Walters, Henry has opened up about Rhona’s psychological torment,

the toll of filming such intense material, and a surprisingly candid revelation about her professional boundaries—particularly when it comes to working opposite her real-life husband, Jeff Hordley.

Henry, who first appeared as Rhona in 2001 and became a permanent fixture in 2010 after stints on Coronation Street and EastEnders, has shepherded the character through years of personal upheaval. In recent years, Rhona has found happiness with Marlon Dingle, navigating the complexities of a blended family. But that fragile peace was shattered when their daughter April Windsor became ensnared in a nightmare involving Ray Walters and Celia Daniels—an exploitation plot that spiraled into modern slavery, coercion, and abuse.

The storyline saw April manipulated into drug trafficking and forced into relationships with older men to pay off debts—a sinister web that left Rhona and Marlon paralyzed with fear. Although the criminal enterprise was eventually exposed, justice proved cruelly elusive. Celia was killed by her own son, Ray, during a confrontation that erupted as he attempted to start a new life with Laurel Thomas. Soon after, Ray himself was found dead—his body dumped in the back of Jai Sharma’s van. The identity of his killer has remained a mystery, one Emmerdale plans to solve through a gripping week of whodunit episodes, complete with flashbacks that spotlight the prime suspects: Laurel, Rhona, and Marlon.

Speaking about Rhona’s encounters with Ray, Henry didn’t shy away from the emotional cost. She described the scenes as “particularly dark,” explaining that Ray’s calculated cruelty targeted Rhona’s deepest vulnerabilities. “When he mentioned Pierce,” Henry said, referring to Rhona’s abusive ex, “that’s her Achilles’ heel. Ray knew exactly what he was doing. Just bringing that name into the room derailed her.” The result, Henry explained, was a character living in a constant state of fear—jumping at every sound, bracing for danger, convinced there was no safe place left.

That relentless anxiety, Henry added, is what fuels the moral ambiguity at the heart of the whodunit. Asked whether Rhona could have been driven to kill Ray, the actress was candid. “I think she could be motivated,” Henry said. “How long are they prepared to let this go on for? There’s a moment of desperation where you feel there is no way out. If I die or sacrifice myself to free my family—particularly my children—maybe I’ll do it.” For Rhona, the calculus becomes terrifyingly simple: Ray is “ruthless and relentless,” and stopping him may require the ultimate sacrifice.

As viewers brace for the reveal, many fans have wondered why Cain Dingle—Emmerdale’s legendary enforcer, played by Jeff Hordley—didn’t step in to dismantle Ray and Celia’s empire sooner. Cain’s absence from the rescue narrative sparked intense speculation, especially given his long-standing ties to Marlon and his reputation for decisive action. Henry addressed that curiosity with a mix of honesty and humor, offering insight that surprised many.

Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley have been married since 2003, one of the soap world’s most enduring real-life partnerships. Yet Henry revealed that, professionally, she prefers to keep their work lives separate. “Professionally disappointed, personally thrilled,” she said of Cain not intervening. “I don’t want to work with Jeff, and he doesn’t want to work with me.” The remark, delivered with warmth rather than malice, underscored a boundary the couple has long respected—one rooted in preserving their personal relationship away from the pressures of performance.

Henry was quick to clarify the nuance. She praised Hordley as “a brilliant actor” and acknowledged the creative allure of sharing scenes with someone so talented. “I’m always keen to work with people who are brilliant—and he is—so it’s a double-edged sword,” she admitted. The choice, it seems, isn’t about conflict or discomfort, but about balance: protecting a marriage that has thrived for more than two decades by not blurring the lines between home and set.

That balance mirrors the thematic heart of Emmerdale’s current arc—how far people will go to protect what matters most. For Rhona, that means confronting fear head-on, even if it means crossing moral boundaries she never imagined. For Henry, it means honoring the integrity of her craft while safeguarding her personal life.

As the whodunit week unfolds, each episode promises to peel back layers of motive and memory through flashbacks that place viewers inside the minds of the suspects. Laurel’s grief and guilt, Marlon’s protective fury, and Rhona’s all-consuming panic will collide, culminating in a reveal that promises to be both shocking and emotionally devastating. Whoever killed Ray Walters, the consequences will ripple across the village, redefining relationships and leaving scars that won’t fade easily.

For Henry, the storyline represents some of the most demanding work of her career—an exploration of trauma, maternal terror, and moral compromise. It also highlights Emmerdale’s enduring strength: its ability to tackle brutal contemporary issues without losing sight of character-driven truth. As Rhona stands at the center of the storm, Zoe Henry’s performance anchors the chaos with authenticity and restraint.

And while fans may continue to dream of Cain Dingle swooping in to mete out justice, Henry’s candid confession reminds viewers that sometimes the most powerful choices happen off-screen. In a show defined by family, loyalty, and survival, the lines between professional ambition and personal preservation can be just as dramatic as anything written into the script.