Gemma Oaten Explained

Gemma Oaten
Birth Date:8 May 1984
Birth Place:Kingston upon Hull, England
Occupation:Actress
Television:Emmerdale
Education:Drama Studio London

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 , 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.

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. In April 2015, she played Stacey Bayton in an episode of the BBC medical drama series Casualty.[13] Between 2017 and 2018, she joined the cast of Holby City and played the role of Sydney Somers in four episodes.[14] [15] In 2021, Oaten portrayed Isla Haywood in two episodes of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.[16] 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.[17] [18] [19]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011DoctorsSam Doyle2 episodes
2011–2015EmmerdaleRachel BreckleSeries regular
2015CasualtyStacey BaytonEpisode: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue"
2015Pick UpGirlShort film
2017Film Stars Don't Die in LiverpoolPatientFilm
2017LucyFilm
2017–2018Holby CitySydney Somers4 episodes
2021Coronation StreetIsla Haywood3 episodes

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenue
2016Bedroom FarceJanGordon Craig Theatre[20]
2017Up 'n' UnderHazelGordon Craig Theatre[21]
2018Going ApeDance Attic Studios[22]
2019Ten Times TableSophieUK tour

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2012TV Quick AwardsBest Soap NewcomerEmmerdale[23]
2012The British Soap AwardsBest NewcomerEmmerdale[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten reveals anorexia battle. Digital Spy. 23 July 2011. (Hearst Communications). 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a331284/emmerdales-gemma-oaten-reveals-anorexia-battle/. live.
  2. Web site: ‘So many people are struggling’: Gemma Oaten launches new eating disorder support project. The Hull Story. 20 April 2022. 5 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220305122725/https://www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/gemma-oaten-launches-new-eating-disorder-project. live.
  3. News: Model Tess Holliday reveals she’s recovering from anorexia. The Guardian. 29 April 2022. 15 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215172703/https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/may/05/tess-holliday-recovering-from-anorexia. live.
  4. News: Gemma Oaten to tour in Kenwright's Ten Times Table. Drama Studio London. 29 April 2022. 21 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121023319/https://dramastudiolondon.co.uk/gemma-oaten-to-tour-in-kenwright-s-ten-times-table. live.
  5. News: Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten's battle to save Hull eating disorder charity after funding cut. ITV. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-02-15/emmerdale-star-gemma-oatens-eating-disorder-charity-loses-25000-contract. live.
  6. News: ITV Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten diagnosed with disease which could kill her. Birmingham Mail. 29 April 2022. 25 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220425172856/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/itv-emmerdale-star-gemma-oaten-23726860. live.
  7. Web site: In the Queen's Arms Part 2. BBC. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y16br. live.
  8. Web site: Gemma Oaten. School Speakers. 20 April 2022. 15 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200815193400/https://www.schoolspeakers.co.uk/speaker-listings/gemma-oaten-speaker. live.
  9. Web site: 'Emmerdale' casts feisty newcomer Rachel. Digital Spy. Kristy. Kelly. 3 June 2011. 20 April 2022. 28 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150928160851/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a322842/emmerdale-casts-feisty-newcomer-rachel.html. live.
  10. Web site: 'Emmerdale' star promises "great" plans for newcomer Rachel. Kilkelly. Daniel. 19 July 2011. Digital Spy. 20 April 2022. 28 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150928161502/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a330644/emmerdale-star-promises-great-plans-for-newcomer-rachel.html. live.
  11. Web site: 'Emmerdale': Gemma Oaten to leave Rachel Breckle role. Kilkelly. Daniel. 30 October 2013. Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). 30 October 2013. 1 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131101124806/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a527618/emmerdale-gemma-oaten-to-leave-rachel-breckle-role.html. live.
  12. Web site: Emmerdale to kill a character off screen as Jai Sharma receives shocking news. Lee. Jess. 10 September 2019. Digital Spy. 21 September 2019. 21 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921015835/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a28964908/emmerdale-spoilers-rachel-breckle-death-jai-sharma/. live.
  13. Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Casualty. Casualty (TV series). BBC. BBC One. 4 April 2015. 29 April 2022. 15 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220315162924/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qktts. live.
  14. News: Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten joins Holby City. Metro. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://metro.co.uk/2016/12/13/emmerdale-star-gemma-oaten-joins-holby-city-6320693/. live.
  15. Web site: Ex-Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten will return to Holby City. Harp. Justin. 1 February 2018. Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). 20 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015011/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/holby-city/a848923/ex-emmerdale-gemma-oaten-returning-to-holby-city/. live.
  16. Web site: Has Gemma Oaten left Coronation Street already? Will Isla be back?. Entertainment Daily. Crawford=first=Carena. 16 November 2021. 20 April 2022. 3 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503115342/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/has-gemma-oaten-left-coronation-street-already-will-isla-be-back/. live.
  17. Web site: Episode 11. BBC. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015016/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000by39. live.
  18. Web site: Gemma Oaten: Anorexia nearly killed me. ITV. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/emmerdale-gemma-oaten-reveals-anorexia-nearly-killed-her. live.
  19. Web site: Gemma Oaten opens up about anorexia battle. ITV. 29 April 2022. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420015015/https://www.itv.com/lorraine/articles/gemma-oaten-on-anorexia-battle. live.
  20. News: Ex-Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten joins Bedroom Farce cast at Gordon Craig Theatre. Welwyn Hatfield Times. 3 September 2016. 29 April 2022. 3 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503115341/https://www.whtimes.co.uk/things-to-do/ex-emmerdale-star-gemma-oaten-joins-bedroom-farce-cast-at-5546166. live.
  21. News: Former Emmerdale star set for Up 'n' Under in Stevenage. The Comet. 11 September 2017. 29 April 2022. 15 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210415084233/https://www.thecomet.net/things-to-do/emmerdale-gemma-oaten-gordon-craig-theatre-stevenage-5371760. live.
  22. News: Going Ape! - Dance Attic Studios, London. North West End UK. 29 April 2022. 8 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508010135/https://northwestend.co.uk/index.php/professional-reviews/london/3544-going-ape-dance-attic-studios-london. live.
  23. Web site: TV Choice Awards - soap nominees in full. Daniel. Kilkelly. 3 July 2012. Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). 29 April 2022. 19 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219045413/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a391264/tv-choice-awards-2012-soap-nominees-in-full/. live.
  24. News: British Soap Awards 2012 - winners in full. Digital Spy. 5 February 2020. 3 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190103011457/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a378918/british-soap-awards-2012-winners-in-full/. live.

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