Former EastEnders star Gemma Bissix has candidly shared her personal battle with self-doubt during her formative years on the set of the iconic BBC soap opera. The actress, now aged 42, was just nine years old when she was originally cast as Clare Bates in 1993, a role she portrayed for five years before making a brief return to the show last month as part of her stepfather Nigel's tragic exit storyline, played by Paul Bradley.
Reflections on Early Career and Self-Confidence Struggles
Looking back at her initial stint on EastEnders, Gemma opened up about her profound struggles with self-confidence and how the late Barbara Windsor, who played the legendary Peggy Mitchell from 1994 until 2016, took her under her wing. Barbara Windsor tragically passed away in December 2020 at the age of 83 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Gemma expressed regret over her younger self's lack of belief, stating: 'I was really hard on myself, and you can't get those years back. You realise, if I’d just had a bit more self-belief back then, I probably would have enjoyed life a lot more. I wish I could tell my younger self to believe in herself more.'
Mentorship and Learning on Set
She highlighted the invaluable lessons learned from seasoned cast members, noting: 'It was definitely where I learned my craft. Barbara Windsor took me under her wing and taught me what to do. Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, taught me how to learn my lines.' Gemma emphasized that the soap set served as her training ground, as she never attended drama school, a point reinforced by recent conversations with co-star Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts.
Her character Clare Bates left EastEnders in 1993 at age 14 to train as an electrician, leaving the door open for a return, which occurred briefly in 2008 when she reappeared as a transformed maneater. Meanwhile, Gemma later took on the role of villain Claire Devine in Hollyoaks, a character she has played intermittently since 2006.
Climactic Exit from Hollyoaks
In a dramatic turn of events, Hollyoaks recently killed off Claire Devine after 20 years, with a stomach-churning fall from a cliff. Following her escape from prison, Clare confronted fellow killer Sienna Blake, played by Anna Passey, on the cliff edge. After taunting Sienna and threatening to expose her murderous actions, Clare was pushed off the cliff by an infuriated Sienna, falling into icy waters below and not seen again.
Aftermath and Ongoing Drama
In the episode aired on April 8, Clare's death was confirmed, with Sienna maintaining that it was an accidental slip. While Sienna and her girlfriend Cleo McQueen, portrayed by Nadine Mulkerrin, stuck to this story with the police, fellow character Warren Fox, played by Jamie Lomas, remained unconvinced, setting up potential future conflicts.
Clare Devine first appeared on Hollyoaks in 2005, initially portrayed by Samantha Rowley, with Gemma Bissix taking over in 2006. The character was seemingly killed off in 2013 but returned last year ahead of the soap's 30th anniversary, making a comeback in recent episodes before her final demise.
