Gemma Oaten | |
---|---|
Born | Kingston upon Hull, England | 8 May 1984
Education | Drama Studio London |
Occupation | Actress |
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 .
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]
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]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Doctors | Sam Doyle | 2 episodes |
2011–2015 | Emmerdale | Rachel Breckle | Series regular |
2015 | Casualty | Stacey Bayton | Episode: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" |
2015 | Pick Up | Girl | Short film |
2017 | Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool | Patient | Film |
2017 | Rise of the Footsoldier: The Pat Tate Story | Lucy | Film |
2017–2018 | Holby City | Sydney Somers | 4 episodes |
2021 | Coronation Street | Isla Haywood | 3 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Bedroom Farce | Jan | Gordon Craig Theatre | [22] |
2017 | Up 'n' Under | Hazel | Gordon Craig Theatre | [23] |
2018 | Going Ape | Unknown | Dance Attic Studios | [24] |
2019 | Ten Times Table | Sophie | UK tour | [4] |
2024 | Dick Whittington meets the Pirates from the Caribbean | Fairy Bowbells | Grimsby Auditorium |
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | TV Quick Awards | Best Soap Newcomer | Emmerdale | Nominated | [13] |
2012 | The British Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Emmerdale | Nominated | [14] |