Biography

Replaced Samantha Rowley in the role of Clare Devine on Hollyoaks (1995).

After leaving school she ran a pub for two years, sold electrical products for her family business and also worked as a bra measurer at Marks & Spencer before deciding to return to acting.

Participated in the 4th series of Dancing on Ice (2006), but was the 2nd person and 1st female to be eliminated (January 2009).

Is one of 10 EastEnders (1985) actors to have competed on Dancing on Ice (2006). The others, in chronological order, are Todd Carty (Mark Fowler), Bobby Davro (Vinnie Monks), Danniella Westbrook (Sam Mitchell), Nadia Sawalha (Annie Palmer), Sam Attwater (Leon Small), Laila Morse (Mo Harris), Matt Lapinskas (Anthony Moon), Joe Swash (Mickey Miller), and Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson).

Became engaged to boyfriend Kristian Rouse after he proposed to her whilst on holiday in Amsterdam on Valentine's Day 2015. They have been in a relationship since 2008.

Most men are scared of me. They either think I'm going to kill them or steal all their money. It's as if they can't distinguish me, Gemma, from my evil characters. I was in Sainsbury's recently and a female member of staff refused to serve me. I thought she was joking and tried to get my groceries onto the conveyor belt, but she point-blank refused. I was half-amused and half-annoyed. It's the downside of playing the super-bitch on TV. If people could meet the real Gemma, they would see I'm actually a nice person, and nothing like the Clare characters.

Before I did Masterchef I couldn't cook anything and I would just be the one who brought the wine to dinner parties but now I can cook. My speciality is monkfish wrapped in pancetta.

[on Dancing on Ice] I had eight weeks of training before I did it and it has really shaped me up. I never lost any weight but I've lost about two inches. It was worth it because now I've got a great bottom.

A soap is a good gig because you've got solid work and you know the pennies will come in.

I really want to make sure that I can earn a living acting and that I can carry on without having to find another occupation. That's the scary thing, you think "Will it last forever or will bills mean I have to get a proper job?"