Denise Welch is pleased 'Hollyoaks' have been exploring postnatal depression and psychosis because that's where her "mental health troubles" began.
Denise Welch
The 62-year-old actress, who recently joined the Channel 4 soap as Trish Minniver, praised the way the show covers "issue-led storylines", and admitted there are some brilliant parts for women of a certain age in soaps.
Former 'Coronation Street' actress Denise - who has kids Matt, 31, and Louis, 20, with her ex Tim Healy - said: "There are some great roles for older women, and I think soaps work the best when you've got the combination of older and younger characters and the mix of comedy and drama.
"And 'Hollyoaks' do issue-led storylines so well.
"I'm delighted they've been exploring postnatal depression and psychosis, because that's where my own mental health troubles started."
Denise is pleased the age gap between Trish and her lover Brad, who is played by 44-year-old Tom Benedict Knight, hasn't been "bigged up" on the soap, and admitted the character is "great fun" to portray.
She added to TV Times magazine: "She has a very dark, narcissistic side, but she is also great fun.
"My husband is 15 years younger than me, and Trish's boyfriend, Brad, is a similar age, but I love that the age gap hasn't been bigged up.
"Brad started out by snogging Maxine [Trish's daughter, played by Nikki Sanderson], but he and Trish are very much attracted to one another.
"Trish is the kind of woman who will always blame the woman though, not the man.
"There's a real passive aggressiveness towards Maxine.
"It's not a healthy relationship, but it's also not uncommon."
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