Ruth Osborne (also Benson) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Terri Dwyer.

Her notable storylines included a "controversial lesbian affair" with Jasmine Bates (Elly Fairman),[2] and relationships with Kurt Benson (Jeremy Edwards), and Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard).

Another storyline saw her form a relationship with Lewis Richardson (Ben Hull) which ended when he physically assaulted her, and due to feeling guilty committed suicide.

Ruth was introduced by producer Phil Redmond in January 1996 as the cousin of established character Natasha Andersen (Shebah Ronay).

Ruth's father Jack (James McKenna), mother Celia (Carol Noakes) and younger brother Darren (Adam Booth) moved into Hollyoaks village where they buy the local pub The Dog in the Pond.

Spike traps Ruth in a room and tries to force himself on her, but Rob Hawthorne (Warren DeRosa) steps in to rescue her.

It goes from bad to worse when Rob organises a hill walk in Wales and after Ruth has another argument with Kurt, she ends up going off with Lewis Richardson (Ben Hull).

Ruth takes a break from her relationship with Lewis and meets Luke Morgan (Gary Lucy) who seduces her.

During the first late night special, Lucy Benson (Kerrie Taylor) is kidnapped by Rob Hawthorne and taken to a disused watertank, with Ruth, Lewis and Tony in pursuit.

She rekindles her relationship with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) despite his marriage to Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn) and later becomes pregnant.

She's later discover that Dawn's brother Max Cunningham (Matt Littler) was the one who held the key for his sister affair with her father, causing her to not forgive him.

Ruth returns on 5 August 2008 for the 'funeral' of Jack, unaware that the whole thing is an insurance scam, she tells her stepmother Frankie (Helen Pearson) she is engaged.

[11] The Daily Record listed her among "The soap stars who boosted the ratings with their shocking clinches" for her part in a lesbian storyline.

Terri Dwyer, who plays her (after a fashion) is wooden as well, and seeing her painful attempts at emotional scenes is just too much to take.

[19] The Sunday Mail commented on her time in the show saying she has had "controversial storylines" including "attempted rape, married young, kicked out by her husband over an affair, then widowed, a lesbian kiss with a 17-year-old, and now an unwanted pregnancy.

[20] Ruth in Hollyoaks was also known as a rather loud mouthed character, evidence of this is seen in an episode where while she is talking Lucy Benson's hand covers her mouth in order to gag her but Ruth continues to try and talk but just makes muffled sounds under Lucy's hand.

The Daily Record commented negatively on Ruth's relationship with Kurt saying that the pair needed a "mallet on the head" after their marriage breakdown.

The Daily Record described the storyline saying "Wait until the TV watchdog people see this week's Hollyoaks - lesbian kissing scenes at tea-time.

"[24] The Daily Record described the brief relationship saying "In Hollyoaks it's the end of the road as Jas moves out of Ruth's flat after their night of passion.