Congratulations🥳🥳 Inside Emmerdale star Michael Parr’s magical engagement to partner Issi

Theirs is a love story that has unfolded across the globe, encompassing London, New York, South Africa and Leeds, and ending in a proposal so unexpected that Michael Parr’s fiancée Isabelle Du Plessis admits she was “standing in the way of her own engagement”.

Speaking exclusively to OK!, the couple appear relaxed and happy at home in Leeds with baby Suzie, who’s now seven months old. “It’s been fantastic,” Issi smiles. “We’ve been out and about as much as possible with the baby and the dog and enjoying this beautiful weather.”

Emmerdale star Michael adds, “Suzie is such a bundle of joy. I was always focused on my career, but now my priorities have shifted to being a dad and a husband-to-be. We’re making the most of it.”

The pair have always believed fate played a hand in bringing them together. “Michael’s family are from Brooklyn, which is really close to where I was working,” Issi says.

“We would have been in New York, hovering around each other at different times in our lives,” says Michael. “It’s like the universe was putting us together.”

They finally met in October 2023, but their early relationship wasn’t without challenges. “We actually met through [dating app] Hinge,” Issi explains.

“I was in London on a business trip and we matched. On our profiles, we both mentioned Muay Thai boxing and I knew the trainers Mike had worked with in New York.

“We went for a drink and joked, ‘Why are we even on this date? We don’t even live in the same country. And then we went on another date… and another… and then we ended up going to Paris together that same week.”

They admit things moved ‘very quickly’ after their first date

Michael laughs, “Our relationship escalated really quickly.”

Within weeks, things had shifted dramatically. “By mid-November, I was back in New York,” Issi explains. “And Mike said, ‘I’m not interested in dating anyone else, let’s give this a go.’ By December, I’d moved back to the UK

Looking back, they both recognise how unusual and serendipitous their connection was. “It felt like kismet,” Issi says. “There were too many coincidences.”

The couple were visiting Issi’s family in South Africa when Michael quietly began planning his proposal, although things didn’t go entirely to plan.

“We were going on safari,” he explains. “I said to her family, ‘If we see elephants or giraffes at the watering hole, I’ll take that as the sign to pop the question.’” “I had no idea at all,” Issi laughs.

At one point, Michael tried to steer her towards the perfect setting. She says, “He kept asking me to go on this bushwalk and I was like, ‘I’ve done bushwalks before. I’m not that into it, but I think you should go.”

Moments later, Michael seized the moment. “I came up with this really cheesy line and said, ‘What do you think is more beautiful, those elephants or this ring?’ and I pulled the ring out of the box and said, “Will you marry me?”

“I turned around and saw the box. I cried a lot. I was so emotional,” Issi says, smiling. “I completely forgot about everyone else around us.”

Michael had spent weeks planning the ring, with help from Issi’s best friend in New York. “They’d actually tried on engagement rings years ago and taken pictures,” he explains. “There was one she really liked, so I had a reference.”

Michael kept Issi’s engagement ring hidden for five weeks before popping the question

The proposal has come at a time when life is already busy for the couple, thanks to baby Suzie, who was born last September. And they admit the early months of parenthood were far from easy. “She was waking up every 45 minutes for six months,” Issi says. “It was really intense.”

Michael adds, “It meant Issi wasn’t getting any proper rest at all. It started affecting her health.” After bringing in a sleep consultant, the situation finally improved. “It was tiny little techniques,” Issi explains. “Within one night, she was sleeping through.”

Michael nods. “It’s about teaching them to self-settle. But you get used to functioning on very little sleep.” Despite the exhaustion, both are clearly besotted with their daughter. Issi says, “She has changed everything. It’s such an honour to be her parents.”

Issi is planning a big birthday bash for Michael’s 40th this August

Michael admits he feels far more settled in Leeds than he did in Los Angeles, where he went to find acting work after leaving Emmerdale in 2018.

“I did five years on Emmerdale then moved straight to LA,” he explains. “I had an American passport so it wasn’t too difficult, and I thought, ‘I’m an actor, but also my mum’s side of the family is American.’ I wanted to go there and make some stories of my own.”

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