Zoe Henry is glad 'Emmerdale' will address the menopause with Rhona Goskirk's latest storyline.
Zoe Henry
The soap star's character is having a difficult time at the moment - including finding out she needs a full hystorectomy following the horrific tractor accident - and the actress was glad to learn that real issues will be played out.
Appearing on ITV's 'Loose Women', she said: "I am, I do think there's still a taboo around it and I think it's insane.
"I think it's tied into our obsession with staying and looking young. To admit to the menopause is to admit to aging, and we don't want to do that."
In upcoming scenes, viewers will see Rhona suffering with hot sweats, mood swings and anxiety.
Zoe, 45, also explained how the storyline will mean her alter ego's 13 year age gap with on-screen boyfriend Pete Barton (Anthony Quinlan) is also brought "into focus".
She added: "It's brought the age gap into focus, and I really like that because it terrifies her!
"Not only is she staring down the barrell of changing her own future, she's impacting on somebody else who's younger, who could go on and have kids, and she's taking that away from him."
Meanwhile, Zoe recently opened up about the storyline - which will mark the first time a British soap has directly dealt with the menopause - and she admitted she has reflected on how it will impact her own life.
She said: "It is hard getting older, and it is one of nature's cruellest blows that women go through the menopause as their children are leaving the nest. In another three years, when I am probably going to be embarking on the menopause, my daughter will be leaving home."
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