Hayley Tamaddon portrays Fatemah Feyzi in the cast of ITV thriller Betrayal, but is she really Iranian?
Soap fans will know Hayley from her roles in Emmerdale and Coronation Street
Hayley Tamaddon is an actress with a career spanning more than 20 years, but you’ve never seen her play a character like Fatemah Feyzi in the cast of Betrayal before.
The ITV thriller brings together a heavyweight cast, including Shaun Evans, Romola Garai, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Omid Djalili. And Hayley also plays a pivotal role.
Her character is an outspoken Iranian dissident who isn’t afraid to challenge the “tyrannical regime” of Iran – despite the extreme danger it put her in. In fact, she becomes a target for some very nasty people…
And Hayley’s dark looks and accent in the thriller easily make her convincing as an Iranian. But where is she from really, and what else has she been in? Here’s everything you need to know about Hayley Tamaddon as she joins the cast of ITV’s Betrayal.
Hayley Tamaddon plays Fatemah Feyzi in cast of ITV’s Betrayal
Actress Hayley Tamaddon may surprise some TV viewers with her portrayal of Fatemah Feyzi in the cast of ITV thriller Betrayal. It’s unlikely you’ve ever seen her play a character like this before.
Bold and unapologetic, Fatemah is a British-Iranian journalist who has spent her career fighting for changes to the Iranian government. But her outspokenness about the rights of Iranian women make her a target.
Despite receiving an onslaught of threats over the years, she has remained steadfast in her mission to inspire action. When her life is threatened by hardline Iranian revolutionaries in the ITV series, she stands firm “for her sisters”.
Is Hayley Tamaddon Iranian? Where is she from?
Hayley was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. But she does have Iranian blood, thanks to her dad. With a dad from Iran and an English mother, Hayley grew up in the UK.
However, her middle name – Soraya – is a Muslim and Arabic/Persian feminine name.
Was Hayley in Emmerdale?
Actress Hayley Tamaddon first appeared in Emmerdale as Delilah Dingle in 2005. She arrived in the village with a bang and stayed for two years until 2007.
Soap fans will know that Delilah was infamous for getting into all sorts of trouble. Del arrived in the village in a wedding dress, driving a sports car, having run out on her wedding. She had romances with Carl King, and Paddy Kirk, before getting close to David Metcalfe.
Delilah and David hatched a plan to steal £20,000 from David’s dad, Eric Pollard, who’d abandoned him as a child. But Delilah subsequently found out that David had slept with Katie Sugden and did a u-turn on the nasty plan.
Instead, Delilah fleeced David. She convinced him to put the money in her account and then scarpered. She hasn’t been seen in the Dales again. But never say never.
In 2011, actress Hayley said she hoped Delilah would return to the Dales one day. Possibly with David’s child. Let’s face it, David’s no secret to unexpected family members turning up in his life, so anything’s possible!
Who did Hayley play in Coronation Street?
Between Hayley played Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street, having been introduced to the cobbles as Steve McDonald’s friend. Needless to say, perhaps, the character caused friction with Steve’s wife Michelle Connor.
She was a receptionist and college classmate of Steve McDonald’s and went on to have a romance with cabbie Lloyd Mullaney.
At the time she and Lloyd got together in 2014, Andrea was still secretly married to her husband Neil, with whom she had a daughter, Jessica. She broke it off to be with Lloyd, leading Neil to stalk the couple in the hopes of winning Andrea back. This culminated in a rooftop protest in Coronation Street, with Andrea ending up dangling from the guttering of the Rovers Return, before Neil finally accepted that his marriage was over.
In 2015, Andrea got a job managing a boutique hotel in Jersey and left Weatherfield with Lloyd. Their baby girl was born there the following year.
What other TV shows and films has Hayley been in?
Actress Hayley Tamaddon can sing as well as act, and has performed in multiple stage shows including Grease, Mamma Mia, Boogie Nights, Chicago, and Fame, as well as The Rocky Horror Show.
Het very first TV role was in 2004 playing a nurse in Where the Heart Is. She went on to appear in episodes of The Royal, The Royal Today, Shameless, Waterloo Road, and Accused.
More recently, she played Judy Mexbury in the 2023 series of Unforgotten, and Melody Jones in the first series of The Good Ship Murder. In 2018, she appeared in her first feature film, playing Sara in the comedy Eaten by Lions.
Was Betrayal star Hayley Tamaddon on Dancing on Ice?
Hayley took part in the fifth series of Dancing on Ice in 2010. She was partnered with professional ice skater Daniel Whiston, who also happens to be her childhood friend and bestie.
Hayley excelled on the ice and surprised no one when she reached the final. She competed against Hollyoaks’ Kieron Richardson and Gary Lucy and went on to win the trophy with 80% of the public vote. Hayley subsequently went on tour with Torvill and Dean after her Dancing on Ice win.
As well as Dancing on Ice, Hayley took part in The Real Full Monty on Ice in 2020, raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities.
Who is Hayley Tamaddon’s partner?
Hayley Tamaddon has never been married, although she has been engaged several times. She was previously engaged to Darren Charles, a dancer and choreographer from Grimsby. However, she called off the wedding after he admitted having cheated on her whilst she was filming Dancing on Ice.
Having ruled out any possibility of a reconciliation, Hayley went on to have a relationship with comedian Marcus Brigstocke. They pair worked together on Spamalot in 2010, leading to his divorce from his wife Sophie.
Hayley later became engaged to an estate agent called Adrian in 2019, and the pair had a toddler son called Jasper. She became a mum at 43.
However, Hayley and Adrian split up after several years. In a Twitter post on Mother’s Day 2022, the actress announced that she had split up with Adrian, leaving her and Jasper alone.
She said: “This Mother’s Day is very different as I am now a single mum. Mine and Jasper’s life has been turned upside down over the last few months… But I realise the best thing to come out of this is Jasper.”
Hayley now shares lots of cute pictures with her son Jasper. He is the only man in her life at the moment.
View this post on Instagram
Does Betrayal star Hayley Tamaddon have children?
Hayley has one son, Jasper, from a previous relationship. He is now five years of age. She has been outspoken about being a single parent, and how proud she is to be a single mum – even though it wasn’t part of her plans.
She’s previously said: “I never set out to be a single parent but I DID set out to be the best mum I could be, and that hasn’t changed.
“I’m so lucky I get to be his mummy. And I’m very proud of myself for overcoming the many obstacles I’ve faced since he was born. To any other single mamas out there… I salute you. Have the most wonderful day!”
On her Instagram page, Hayley describes herself as a mother first. Her profile reads: “Single mum to Jasper! Northern. Actress. Singer. Writer. Presenter. Iranian.”
Betrayal star Hayley Tamaddon reveals arthritis diagnosis
The former Emmerdale and Coronation Street actor announced her arthritis diagnosis in 2024. She ended up in hospital with “horrendous head and neck pain”.
She told her social media followers: “Had a scan. Got told I have arthritis.”
She went on to reveal how, following her diagnosis, she went home, picked son Jasper up from nursery, fed him and put him to bed – and then had a cry.
Arthritis affects nearly 10million people in the UK. The condition typically causes pain, stiffness and swelling in joints.
How old is Hayley Tamaddon?
Betrayal star Hayley Tamaddon is a very youthful-looking 49 years old. The performer was born January 24, 1977.
This makes her an Aquarian.
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