Although the 43-year-old has been absent from our screens for a while, she is most known for her role as Emmerdale’s Alicia Metcalfe from 2010 – 2015.
Anderson stepped onto the cobbles for the first time last night (April 7) as Theo Silverton’s (James Cartwright) “secret” wife – and fans were quick to give her a warm welcome online.
However, did you know that alongside notable roles in TV (including period medical drama The Royal and, more recently, Netflix’s Fool Me Once) Anderson is also a singer – having made it to the final rounds of ITV’s Pop Idol in 2002.
The singing competition had ratings of as high as 10 million viewers for shows before the live final and was hosted by Ant and Dec alongside judges Neil Fox, Pete Waterman, Nicky Chapman and then new-to-TV Simon Cowell.
Anderson appeared on the first series of Pop Idol which was eventually won by Will Young, making it to the top 40 and appearing in the same heat as him.
In a clip from the archives of the show on YouTube, she sweetly sings her version of Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero’ to the impressed judges.
Cowell comments: “Now it’s getting exciting, now we’ve got someone good on this show, really, I think you’re the one to beat now…”
Welcome to the cobbles, Natalie Anderson
Just when Todd thought he’d finally got his dream man, tonight’s Corrie saw both Todd and the viewers stunned as new flame Theo Silverton appeared with his wife by his side!
Read more!
https://t.co/7WhKJSrUj8@AndersonNatalie… pic.twitter.com/jlvanSWw60
— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) April 7, 2025
Although Anderson didn’t go on to make it to the live finals of the show, she continued to sing – releasing an album in 2008.
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However, it was some 11 years later – while starring in Emmerdale – that she went on to make her mark on a TV music competition.
In 2013, Anderson won £80,000 for charity in ITV’s Your Face Sounds Familiar, where celebrities were challenged to perform as different iconic music artists every week.
Anderson won three out of six heats in the competition by transforming into Britney Spears, Kate Bush and Bonnie Tyler.
The show was co-presented by Alesha Dixon and Paddy McGuinness, while the judging panel consisted of Emma Bunton, Julian Clary, and a different guest judge in each episode, including the late Cilla Black.
