When Jaye Griffiths stepped onto the cobbles of Emmerdale earlier this year, audiences immediately sensed something chilling beneath the surface. Introduced as Celia Daniels,

a character wrapped in calm authority and quiet menace, Griffiths wasted no time in reminding viewers why she remains one of British television’s most compelling performers.

What many fans didn’t expect, however, was the wave of nostalgia that followed her arrival — or the collective disbelief that more than two decades have passed since one of her most beloved early roles.

Emmerdale actress Jaye Griffiths arrived on the ITV soap earlier this year as villain Celia Daniels

At 62, Jaye Griffiths appears remarkably unchanged from her days on Weirdsister College, the cult-favourite spin-off of The Worst Witch. As viewers grapple with the darkness of Celia Daniels’ storyline, many have found themselves asking the same question: how has she not aged a day?

Griffiths’ arrival in Emmerdale marked the beginning of one of the soap’s most disturbing storylines in recent memory. Celia Daniels was initially presented as a shrewd, no-nonsense operator, but it quickly became clear that she was far more dangerous than anyone suspected. The revelation that Celia was the mother of Ray Walters added an unsettling psychological dimension to the plot, exposing a toxic dynamic built on control, manipulation, and shared moral corruption.

Together, Celia and Ray orchestrated a sinister drugs operation that quietly infiltrated the village, ensnaring some of its most vulnerable residents. Under the guise of settling fabricated “debts,” the pair targeted teenagers Dylan Penders and April Windsor, grooming them into criminal activity with calculated cruelty. What made the storyline particularly harrowing was not just the criminality, but the emotional manipulation at its core — a chilling depiction of how easily trust can be weaponised.

The plot took an even darker turn when Celia forced April into attending two prostitution appointments. Though April refused to sleep with the clients, she was pushed to breaking point and assaulted one of them in panic. Believing she had killed the man, April was plunged into terror and guilt — emotions that Celia and Ray ruthlessly exploited when they knowingly concealed the truth that the client had survived.

It was a masterclass in psychological torment, and Jaye Griffiths delivered it with unsettling restraint. Celia never needed to shout or threaten openly; her power lay in her calm certainty, her ability to make others feel trapped without raising her voice. It is this chilling subtlety that has made Celia Daniels one of Emmerdale’s most memorable villains — and reminded viewers of Griffiths’ extraordinary range.

As the storyline intensifies, curiosity around the actress herself has surged. For many, seeing Griffiths on screen again has triggered fond memories of her earlier work, particularly her role as Jenny Wendle in Weirdsister College, which aired from 2001 to 2002. Over twenty years later, fans are astonished by how little she seems to have changed, both physically and in screen presence.

The actress appeared in an episode of SMTV Live in 2001 to talk all about Weirdsister College

During a 2001 appearance on SMTV Live alongside Cat Deeley, Dermot O’Leary, and Louise Redknapp, Griffiths spoke warmly about her love for fantasy storytelling. Reflecting on the appeal of magical series, she explained that audiences are drawn to the idea of escaping reality, even briefly. When asked what superpower she would choose, she joked that invisibility would be ideal — a comment that feels oddly prophetic given her ability to disappear into every role she plays.

Long before Celia Daniels, Griffiths had already built an impressive and diverse television career. She is widely recognised for her role as Ros Henderson in the BBC tech drama Bugs, where she brought intelligence and emotional depth to a genre often dominated by spectacle. Her portrayal of D.I. Sally Johnson in The Bill further cemented her reputation as an actress capable of commanding authority without sacrificing nuance.

Her résumé reads like a history of British television drama. From Elizabeth Croft in Doctors to Janet Mander in Silent Witness, Elle Gardner in Casualty, and appearances in Holby City, Griffiths has consistently delivered performances that feel grounded, authentic, and emotionally precise. Even in genre work like The Outpost, where she portrayed Yavalla, she brought a gravitas that elevated the material.

Celia Daniels star Jaye Griffiths pictured in character on Emmerdale

Perhaps most impressively, Griffiths has crossed soap boundaries with ease, making memorable guest appearances in rival shows. She played Helen Stritch QC in EastEnders in 2015 and Nicola Taybarn QC in Coronation Street in 2011, proving her versatility and enduring appeal across networks and formats. Few actors can move so seamlessly between soaps, police dramas, medical series, and fantasy worlds — fewer still can do it while remaining so instantly watchable.

Her return to Emmerdale feels less like a comeback and more like a reminder. A reminder that true screen presence doesn’t fade with time, and that experience brings a depth younger performers can only aspire to. Celia Daniels may be a villain audiences love to hate, but she is also a testament to Griffiths’ ability to anchor even the most extreme storylines in emotional realism.

As Celia’s arc moves toward its explosive conclusion, the impact of Griffiths’ performance will linger. The damage inflicted on April, Dylan, and the wider village will not be easily undone, and the emotional fallout promises to shape Emmerdale for months to come. In many ways, that lasting impact mirrors Griffiths’ own career — quietly influential, deeply rooted in character, and impossible to ignore.

More than twenty years after Weirdsister College, Jaye Griffiths stands as proof that talent doesn’t age — it sharpens. Whether playing a beloved teacher in a magical academy or one of soap’s most disturbing villains, she brings the same intensity, intelligence, and credibility to every role. And as Emmerdale viewers continue to grapple with Celia Daniels’ reign of terror, one thing is clear: Jaye Griffiths hasn’t just stood the test of time — she’s mastered it.