Gemma Merna

Gemma Merna (born 6 February 1984) is an English actress and model. She is best known for portraying the role of Carmel McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2014.

Gemma Merna
Gemma Merna (2015)
Born (1984-02-06) 6 February 1984
Manchester, England
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2006–2017, 2022–present
Known forRole of Carmel McQueen in Hollyoaks
TelevisionHollyoaks (2006–2014)
Splash! (2014)
Spouse
Ian Minton
​
(m. 2012)​

Career

Merna joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in August 2006. In 2007, she won Best Comedy Performance in 2007 at the British Soap Awards.[1] In 2008, Merna appeared on the game show All Star Family Fortunes in a Hollyoaks v Emmerdale special. In February 2013, she appeared on All Star Family Fortunes playing against gardener, garden designer and television personality Diarmuid Gavin.

In 2009, Merna appeared in the spin-off show Hollyoaks Later as Carmel. She also appeared in an episode of the game show Hole in the Wall.

In 2011, she appeared in the documentaries 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers and Hollyoaks Best Bits.

In 2013 and 2014, Merna was a panelist in an episode of Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

In January 2014, she was a contestant on the ITV diving show Splash!, fronted by Tom Daley, she was the first contestant to be eliminated from the show in Heat One.

On 24 August 2014, it was announced that Merna had decided to leave Hollyoaks and would leave in November 2014 in one of Hollyoaks biggest stunts. Jennifer Metcalfe – who plays Merna's on-screen sister Mercedes McQueen – announced her decision to leave the soap opera a few days after Merna's announcement. The character was killed off in an explosive train accident on 12 November 2014, with cast members and television critics praising Merna's performance in her final scenes.

On 8 September 2014, Merna appeared on the panel show Virtually Famous, presented by Glee actor Kevin McHale.

On 25 October 2014, Merna appeared on a special celebrity episode of The Chase.

In 2017, Merna appeared in an episode in TV show Doctors. She also joined former TV mum Nicole Barber-Lane as teammates on the 28 October 2017 "Soaps" episode of Pointless Celebrities.

In January 2022 Merna announced on a Instagram post that she is returning to filming.

Personal life

Merna was born in Manchester and grew up in Worsley[2] where she attended St. George's RC High School, Walkden.

She was engaged to long-term boyfriend Ian Minton and they married in 2012.[3]

In a 2009 interview with Closer magazine, Merna said that having a breast enlargement at the age of 21 was one of the best things she ever did and that it gave her so much confidence.[4]

Filmography
Year Title Type Role Notes
2006–2014[5] Hollyoaks TV Carmel Valentine Regular role, 567 episodes
2009–2010 Hollyoaks Later TV Carmel Valentine 5 episodes
2009 Hole in the Wall TV Herself 1 Episode
2011 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers TV Herself TV documentary
2011 Hollyoaks Best Bits 2011 TV Herself TV documentary
2008, 2013 All Star Family Fortunes TV Herself 2 episodes
2013, 2014 Big Brother's Bit On The Side TV Herself 2 episodes, guest
2014 Splash! TV Herself Heat 1, contestant
2014 Virtually Famous TV Herself 1 episode, panelist
2014 The Chase Celebrity Special TV Herself 1 episode, participant
2014 Daily Brunch with Ocado TV Herself 1 episode, guest

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2007 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [6]
2007 The British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Won [6]
2007 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [7]
2007 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance Nominated [7]
2007 13th National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer Nominated [8]
2008 The British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [9]
2008 Inside Soap Awards Best Couple (shared with Ricky Whittle) Nominated [10]
2008 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance Nominated [10]
2010 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [11]
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [12]
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Wedding (shared with Whittle) Nominated [12]
2012 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female Nominated [13]
2013 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female Nominated [14]
2014 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Nominated [15]
2014 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female Nominated [16]
2015 20th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance Nominated [17]

References
  1. Green, Kris (27 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. "Worsley girl made up with TV award". Manchester Evening News. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  3. Millar, Paul (24 July 2012). "'Oaks Merna 'wept floods at wedding'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. "I'm finally happy with my body", Closeronline.co.uk, 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2011
  5. Kilkelly, Daniel (10 September 2014). "Hollyoaks star praises Carmel's exit plot". Digital Spy.
  6. "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  7. Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  8. "In full: National TV Awards 2007 winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  9. "The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  10. "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". MSN. Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  11. Green, Kris; Kilkelly, Daniel (9 May 2010). "British Soap Awards 2010: The Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  12. Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 nominees". Digital Spy.
  13. Kilkelly, Daniel (19 July 2012). "Inside Soap Awards 2012 - longlist nominees in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  14. Dainty, Sophie (22 July 2013). "Inside Soap Awards 2013 - longlist nominees in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  15. Kilkelly, Daniel (17 March 2014). "British Soap Awards 2014 voting opens, longlist announced". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  16. Dainty, Sophie (29 July 2014). "Inside Soap Awards 2014 longlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  17. Kilkelly, Daniel (14 October 2014). "National Television Awards 2015 - Which soap stars made the long list?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
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