Emmerdale star Beth Cordingly has taken to social media to share a piece of advice that she has ‘only just learned’ at 49 years old.

The Ruby Miligan star shared a selfie to Instagram, alongside a story recounting a conversation she’d had with a young actress.

‘I am 49. I find it easy to say, “I don’t care what people think of me.” Now.
3 years ago I was telling a beautiful actress in her twenties, “it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you”,’ she wrote.

She went on to recall how the actress had argued that ‘it does matter’ when you’re in your twenties, because people do seem to judge.

‘And I remembered what that was like. And how much it matters,’ Beth continued. ‘I only just learnt this: teenagers are hardwired in their DNA – they have a biological need – to FIT IN to the group. To survive. The need to be accepted causes physical pain. I don’t think we lose that for a while.

‘I am HALF A CENTURY OLD. It no longer matters who rolls their eyes at me. But EVERY day can be heartbreaking when you are younger.

‘My head never stopped. Everything matters. Who you sit with, if you’re invited, who says hello, if they smile, if you feel ignored. They might not be ignoring you or even thinking about you – but it feels like they are. That’s not paranoia.’

She went on to point out that being human can be really tough, ‘even when you’re safe and fed and healthy. Whether you’re a child or a grown adult.

She admitted that she didn’t have any advice to offer, but urged her followers to remember that ‘you’re a good person and you’re trying your best’.

She finished by saying: ‘And at some point when you’re 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 or older….there’ll be a moment, I promise, when you’ll turn around and think, “I don’t care as much as I did. And I like who I am. Even if I’m a bit of a t*** sometimes.” We all are. Love to the broken ones. You make the bestest humans.’

Her comments section was quickly filled with people thanking her for the honest post, with one follower writing: ‘I needed to hear this today.’

Meanwhile, Emmerdale co-star Ash Palmisciano, who plays Matty Barton, wrote, ‘beautifully said,’ with a red love heart emoji.

The post comes not long after Beth celebrated a huge milestone.

She took to Instagram with a video announcing that she had hit 100,000 followers on the social media site.

Beth regularly posts on her Instagram and gives her followers an insight into her life away from the Emmerdale village, including her relationship with former Emmerdale star Ian Kelsey.

Beth has been in a relationship with Ian Kelsey for almost five years (Picture: Instagram/Beth Cordingly)

The couple have been together for almost five years, and Beth has previously spoken about how supportive Ian was when she landed her Emmerdale role.

‘There is that thing as an actor where you are always taken away from home, but he totally gets it,’ she previously said.

‘He knows a lot of the crew and cast and so it’s lovely to be able to share what I’ve been up to, knowing he understands.’

Viewers will recognise Ian as Dave Glover, who embarked on a relationship with Kim Tate (Claire King) during his two-year stint between 1994 and 1996.