Gemma Oaten

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.

Gemma Oaten
Born (1984-05-08) 8 May 1984
Kingston upon Hull, England
EducationDrama Studio London
OccupationActress
TelevisionEmmerdale

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
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

Stage
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]

Awards and nominations
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]

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. "'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. "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. 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. "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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