Natalie played Alicia Metcalfe in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\nWho was Alicia?<\/h2>\n
Alicia was Leyla's sister and the adoptive mum of Leyla's son, Jacob.<\/p>\n
So when Leyla was killed in the shocking limo crash recently, fans hoped Alicia would return to pay her respects to her sister and support grieving Jacob.<\/p>\n
But Alicia didn't show up - apparently because she had a broken leg.<\/p>\n
Fans thought it could be because Natalie Anderson's career has been non-stop since she left Emmerdale. She's played Nessarose in the West End production of Wicked, and appeared on Loose Women and This Morning.<\/p>\n
Plus Natalie played Lexi Calder in Hollyoaks from 2021 until 2022.<\/p>\n
She had roles Liam Neeson thriller Memory as well as in Happy Valley, and the smash-hit adaptation of the Harlan Coben book Fool Me Once.<\/p>\n
Natalie's joining Coronation Street<\/h2>\n
Natalie played Claire Walker in Fool Me Once - the sister of the character played by former Corrie star Michelle Keegan.<\/p>\n
Funnily enough, Natalie's resemblance to Michelle Keegan, which won her the role of Claire on Fool Me prevented her getting a part in Corrie several years ago.<\/p>\n
But now Natalie will finally get to step on to the cobbles as Danielle.<\/p>\n
Fans though are disappointed she's joining another soap, instead of coming back to Emmerdale as Alicia.<\/p>\n
\"I though Alicia might come back,\" said one disgruntled viewer.<\/p>\n
And others speculated that Alicia could still return - but played by a different actress. We're not sure how we feel about that!<\/p>\n
![\"Natalie](\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Alicia-Emmerdale.jpg\")