Gemma Oaten

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Gemma Oaten
Born (1984-05-08) 8 May 1984 (age 41)
Kingston upon Hull, England
Education Drama Studio London
OccupationActress
Television Emmerdale

Gemma Oaten (born 8 May 1984) is an English actress. She is known for playing the role of Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, for which she received a nomination for the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer. Since leaving Emmerdale, Oaten has made appearances in various television series and films, including Rise of the Footsoldier: The Pat Tate Story , Holby City and Coronation Street . As well as her onscreen roles, Oaten has also starred in various theatre productions across the UK, including stints in Bedroom Farce and Up 'n' Under .

Contents

Early and personal life

Oaten was born on 8 May 1984 in Kingston upon Hull, England, to Marg and Dennis Oaten. [1] [2] She developed anorexia at the age of 10 and endured a thirteen-year-long battle with the illness, which left her close to death on several occasions. [2] [3] She studied acting and graduated from the Drama Studio London. [4] Oaten is a patron and charity manager of the eating disorder charity Seed, and in 2022, she launched her own recovery programme. [2] [5] In April 2022, she was diagnosed with milk-alkali syndrome. [6]

Career

Oaten made her acting debut in January 2011 when she appeared in two episodes of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Sam Doyle. [7] [8] Six months later, she was cast as Rachel Breckle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale . [9] [10] Oaten decided to leave the soap in October 2013 and made her on-screen exit in January 2014. [11] She returned to the soap in January 2015 and departed once again in August. The character was later killed off in 2019, ruling out a return for Oaten. [12] For her role as Rachel, Oaten received nominations in the Newcomer categories at the TV Quick Awards and British Soap Awards. [13] [14] In April 2015, she played Stacey Bayton in an episode of the BBC medical drama series Casualty . [15] Between 2017 and 2018, she joined the cast of Holby City and played the role of Sydney Somers in four episodes. [16] [17] In 2021, Oaten portrayed Isla Haywood in two episodes of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street . [18] Outside of acting, Oaten has appeared on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip , and several daytime television shows such as This Morning and Lorraine where she has openly discussed her experiences with anorexia. [19] [20] [21]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 Doctors Sam Doyle2 episodes
2011–2015 Emmerdale Rachel Breckle Series regular
2015 Casualty Stacey BaytonEpisode: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue"
2015Pick UpGirlShort film
2017 Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool PatientFilm
2017 Rise of the Footsoldier: The Pat Tate Story LucyFilm
2017–2018 Holby City Sydney Somers4 episodes
2021 Coronation Street Isla Haywood 3 episodes

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
2016 Bedroom Farce Jan Gordon Craig Theatre [22]
2017 Up 'n' Under HazelGordon Craig Theatre [23]
2018Going ApeUnknownDance Attic Studios [24]
2019Ten Times TableSophieUK tour [4]
2024Dick Whittington meets the Pirates from the CaribbeanFairy BowbellsGrimsby Auditorium

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2012 TV Quick Awards Best Soap NewcomerEmmerdaleNominated [13]
2012 The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer EmmerdaleNominated [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten reveals anorexia battle". Digital Spy . (Hearst Communications). 23 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "'So many people are struggling': Gemma Oaten launches new eating disorder support project". The Hull Story. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Model Tess Holliday reveals she's recovering from anorexia". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Gemma Oaten to tour in Kenwright's Ten Times Table". Drama Studio London. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten's battle to save Hull eating disorder charity after funding cut". ITV . Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "ITV Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten diagnosed with disease which could kill her". Birmingham Mail . Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "In the Queen's Arms Part 2". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Gemma Oaten". School Speakers. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Kelly, Kristy (3 June 2011). "'Emmerdale' casts feisty newcomer Rachel". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 July 2011). "'Emmerdale' star promises "great" plans for newcomer Rachel". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (30 October 2013). "'Emmerdale': Gemma Oaten to leave Rachel Breckle role". Digital Spy . (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Lee, Jess (10 September 2019). "Emmerdale to kill a character off screen as Jai Sharma receives shocking news". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  13. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (3 July 2012). "TV Choice Awards - soap nominees in full". Digital Spy . (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  14. 1 2 "British Soap Awards 2012 - winners in full". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "Something Borrowed, Something Blue". Casualty. 4 April 2015. BBC. BBC One. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten joins Holby City". Metro . Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Harp, Justin (1 February 2018). "Ex-Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten will return to Holby City". Digital Spy . (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  18. ↑ Crawford=first=Carena (16 November 2021). "Has Gemma Oaten left Coronation Street already? Will Isla be back?". Entertainment Daily. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "Episode 11". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Gemma Oaten: Anorexia nearly killed me". ITV. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Gemma Oaten opens up about anorexia battle". ITV. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Ex-Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten joins Bedroom Farce cast at Gordon Craig Theatre". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "Former Emmerdale star set for Up 'n' Under in Stevenage". The Comet . 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  24. ↑ "Going Ape! - Dance Attic Studios, London". North West End UK. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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