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Roxy Shahidi is best known to fans for playing the sultry and confident brunette Leyla Cavanagh in ITV's Emmerdale.

The Manchester-born star first made her appearance in the soap in 2008 and has been involved in several hard-hitting storylines and comedically fuelled performances.

Before appearing in the Dales, Roxy, 38, starred in the theatre production of East is East and appeared in British comedy Rafta, Rafta… at the National Theatre.

Roxy's character Leyla got married to the love of her life, Liam Cavanagh in June 2021 – but their relationship was anything but smooth sailing.

After a really rocky romance, the pair were struggling, but the final nail in the coffin came after Leyla battled a drug addiction, and the pair are now separated.

Fortunately for Roxy, her life away from the cameras is far less complicated as she is currently enjoying married life with her husband who is also a familiar face on TV.

Roxy is married to actor Arsher Ali and the pair have been inseparable since.

Daily Star have taken a look inside their real life marriage.

Famous hubby

British-Pakistani actor Arsher is best known for his roles in BBC crime drama Line of Duty and Channel 4's Ackley Bridge as well as The Missing.

In Line of Duty the actor played PC Hari Bains in the third series of the BBC police corruption drama.

Arsher's character was blackmailed into working for the evil network of bent coppers in the show.

Arsher, 37, first became known to the British public for his role in the film Four Lions, where he played the role of Hassan.

But the talented actor has continued to stay booked and busy since then. His latest credit includes the film The Dig which was released on Netflix in January 2021.

Two-week proposal

Roxy and Arsher first met in 2007 when they both worked together on a theatre production.

The pair seemed to hit it off straight away but for Arsher it was most certainly love at first sight.

Despite not engaging in anything romantic prior, Arsher decided to propose to Roxy two weeks after they first met.

Discussing his abrupt proposition to The Mirror in 2014, Roxy said: "He just looked me in the eye at a cast party and said, 'Will you marry me?'

"I didn’t answer and he said, 'You will be my wife' and that was it. I didn’t quite know what to make of it because I didn’t know him that well.

"I knew that he liked me but we hadn’t really said anything. We hadn’t even kissed!"

Though Roxy was taken aback by his proposal, she decided to give Arsher a chance and the pair became official shortly after.

Marriage bliss

Roxy and Arsher had the perfect big day surrounded by family and friends during their 2010 "blessing" ceremony which took place at Eastwood Hall in Nottingham.

However, four years later the couple still hadn't made it official by signing the marriage register.

Providing more details about her 'not yet legal' marriage in 2014, Roxy explained that are planning to to sign the documents but haven't yet got round to it.

She also mentioned that it is not a "priority" for them as a couple.

During the ceremony, Roxy had her family attend from the Unites States and her mother flew in from Ireland to celebrate her big day.

Baby joy

In 2018, the couple welcomed a little girl, however Roxy previously explained that the pregnancy news came as a shock to her.

Speaking frankly, Roxy admitted she was "absolutely terrified" when she saw the positive test result and burst into tears immediately after.

Discussing the news with OK! in 2017, Roxy said: "We had only been trying for a few weeks and I was sure it was going to take us much longer.

"It took a few weeks before I got my head around it but, once I did, I was filled with joy."

Arsher told the publication: "We were at home when we found out. I was over the moon but Roxy looked shocked."

Roxy's Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb who plays the infamous Debbie Dingle in the soap was the first to notice that Roxy may have been pregnant.

Before Roxy had taken a test, Charley called the star and told her that her boobs appeared to look a lot larger which gave her indication that she may have been with child.

Arsher said he also noticed something peculiar, as Roxy began to have an intense craving for Hula Hoops, something she would rarely snack on.

Although the happy couple have kept their daughter out of the limelight, the both have become regulars on TV's across the country.

Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV at 7pm, with an extra helping on Thursdays at 8pm

• Emmerdale

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