Actress Gemma Oaten has just made her debut on the cobbles as Coronation Street newcomer Isla Haywood and has spoken out about her dream to be on the show and how Hollywood star Sir Patrick Stewart mentored her after 13 year anorexia battle.
Gemma, 37, who, as well as starring in Emmerdale, also appeared in Hollyoaks and Holby City, has spoken to The Sun and revealed how actor Sir Patrick Stewart, 81, was “instrumental” in speaking out about her anorexia battle.The soap star explained that she wrote to the Hollywood star for advice after suffering from the age of ten and through her teens with anorexia.
Gemma said: “He was instrumental in the decision to start speaking out. He said it was important to use our voices for good. “He invited me to see him on stage and I often send him links to my TV appearances. He writes back and says he’s proud to know me and that I’m an inspiration.Corrie has also been a support for Gemma through her battles with the eating disorder so making her debut on the cobbles as Tyrone Dobbs' new love interest has been a dream come true for the actress.
“It was very much reward and punishment, so if I’d put on weight I’d be allowed to watch television. I’d watch Coronation Street and escape into it and have that little bit of fire inside me thinking, ‘I can beat this eating disorder — I can get better and go for my dreams’.