Lisa Riley posts emotional birthday tribute to late mum

Lisa Riley has posted an emotional tribute to her late mum, on what would have been her 65th birthday.

The actor, whose mum passed away from cancer in July 2012, marked the special occasion by sharing a picture of her and her mum Cath on Instagram.

Alongside the snap, the soap star wrote: ‘GRIEF........ Gaining Realisation In Every Feeling.

‘65 TODAY.... The realisation today more so than other days, is the fact it’s your BIRTHDAY, and I wish more than anything I could be able to share my happy stories with you, show you my messages of warmth, look at photos of your new grand daughter Everlyn,hold your hand and laugh like we did every single day, let you fight my battles, when someone was giving me crap....but your not, you are in heaven, shining down, and MAINLY be able to pick up the phone dial your number and sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY....I can’t do that...

‘And that’s grief, for everyone who shares the same mind set, the same feelings...I get it, I understand, and for that very reason. Today we can toast my mums birthday and know that TOGETHER it’s great to share any pain, because bottling it up hurts even more. It’s ok to cry....it just proves more and more how much you loved them and how much you love them even more now they are gone. Mum I hold your laughter and your smile and your love of life....in my heart!!! #mum #grief #grieving #truth #birthday #love #family #realreality #loveofmylife #myworld’.

Fans of the Emmerdale star were quick to send her comforting messages of support, with one saying: ‘Grief, it never goes, just becomes easier to deal with daily, except on days like today when the full weight of that grief consumes you again. Remember the special times today and always ❤️’.

Another wrote: ‘Happy birthday to your beautiful mum. Sending you love and strength lisa❤️xx’.

A third added: ‘happy birthday to ur mum @lisajaneriley. my mum passed away 7 weeks ago and Xmas was particularly hard so I totally feel ur pain 😘 xxxx’

After sadly finding out she wouldn't be able to have children, Lisa revealed she was actually relieved because grief was too hard for her and she wouldn’t want to put her own children through it.

She told The Mirror last year: ‘I would never put a human being through what I went through and what I’m still going through today.

‘That grief is the worst emotion in the living memory of man. When you had that unbreakable bond me and my mum had, and it’s still there, and you can’t do anything, it’s a killer. I thought I’d never climb back out from that and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy in the world.’