There’s a new face in Emmerdale tonight as Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin) manages to track down his long-lost daughter, Naomi (Karene Peter). Charles knows he has had a daughter since his ex-wife, Esme (Eva Fontaine), told Naomi last October – but Charles refused to see her. In tonight’s episode, he decides to look for her after hearing that she’s gone missing from home, and finds her working in a bar. This is not the reunion he may have been hoping for, as he eventually fights with the bar manager and speaks out that he is Naomi’s father.
So, what do we know about Naomi Anderson, and about Karene Peter?
Who’s Naomi Anderson?
We learned last October that Charles, as well as Ethan (Emile John), had another child. Naomi was born after Charles and his wife Esme split up. Charles cheated on Esme shortly after Ethan was born, while Esme suffered from postpartum depression.
When she learned that she was pregnant again, Esme chose to keep the pregnancy a secret from Charles as the relationship broke down. She later gave baby Naomi for adoption, with mother and daughter being reunited many years later. However, Charles decided he did not want to meet his daughter.
Karene Peter describes her character’s intricate family background: ‘Her relationship with Esme, when we met Naomi, improved from what it was, but it’s still a bit loaded,’ she says. ‘Naomi has an advantage over her, a bit of a rebel, a bit of anxiety about not necessarily being adopted, because her adoptive family is loving and she grew up in a loving home. But I just think there are slight abandonment issues there with her father and her mother. I think Esme feels that they might be closer than Naomi feels they are. As for Charles, they talked about him and Esme told Naomi that Charles wanted nothing to do with her after he found out about her. So it informed Naomi’s initial impression of her biological father, which is not a good one. ‘
Who’s Karene Peter?
The 30-year-old Karene Peter did quite a few televisions before joining Emmerdale, including several appearances last year in Call The Midwife as Pupil Midwife Georgette Bains. She also had roles in Doctors, Unforgotten and a regular role in CBBC series The Sparticle Mystery.
She’s been playing since she’s 18, though she says she ‘accidentally fell into it’ on a bridging year of college, when a friend suggested she go to some acting classes. “There was an agency attached to those classes and I drew and from there things fell into place,” she recalls. “It was a long, interesting journey.”
Karene is a longtime Emmerdale fan. “It’s a soap opera I watched in my younger years, so being on set is like being transported in my TV!” she says.
She shared the news of her arrival in the Dales on her Instagram with the message, ‘POV: You’re a new series regularly on Emmerdale. 🎬 Here is the beginning of what I will surely be a very interesting journey! Welcome Naomi to your screens from July 5th ✨ ‘while other photos show her love of fitness and travel. “I’m very interested in my fitness,” she told us. ‘Kevin [Mathurin] will tell you that. I sing too. I’m a family oriented girl, my nephews are my world. I’m a chilled, relaxed kind of person. ‘
She reveals that there is still a lot waiting for her character. “We meet her under not so good circumstances, but as the story progresses, she redeems herself and we definitely see different sides of Naomi,” she says.
MORE: 12 Soap Spoilers: Coronation Street Surprise Passion, EastEnders Deathly Hallows, Emmerdale Tragedy, Hollyoaks Murder Horror
The Soap Newsletter
Include exclusive content, treats and interviews before appearing on the site. Find out more “