Gemma Merna is "very proud" of her "life-changing" time on 'Hollyoaks'.
Gemma Merna as Carmel
The 36-year-old star played Carmel McQueen on the Channel 4 soap from 2006 to 2014, and she still feels "grateful" to have been a part of the programme, and admitted she didn't realise how "iconic" her on-screen family were at the time.
She said: "My experience was incredible. To create Carmel McQueen was a dream come true.
"Also, to win Best Comedy' at the British Soap Awards 2007 was probably the highlight. That first year was life changing. I look back now and I'm very proud of what I achieved.
"At the time, I don't think I and the rest of the family realised how iconic the McQueen Family was for the world of soap. I'm so grateful I was part of it."
Sadly, Gemma won't be able to return to 'Hollyoaks' after Carmel was killed off in an explosion following a train crash at her cousin Porsche McQueen's (Twinnie Lee Moore) wedding, but the star loved her exit and has likened it to an action movie.
She said: "It was incredible. It was shot like an action film. Graeme Harper, our director, was amazing, and he let me have a lot of input into the episodes.
"There was a shot that I asked if we could put in, of Carmel waving goodbye before she gets on the train.
"I thought it was a way of her saying goodbye. Also, her death scene was very emotional ... we all just cried all day! Ha. I am very proud of it."
Since departing the village, Gemma has become a yoga instructor and has also appeared in 'Doctors'.
She added: "I always wanted to train to be a yoga instructor. I just love how yoga makes you feel, and I've wanted to teach that to other people. I went to Morocco for my teacher training for 2 weeks after I left the show. That was life changing! I've been teaching ever since. I'm also a personal trainer.
"I did some lovely episodes on the wonderful 'Doctors', and a musical.
"So I've been very busy! I get to spend lots of time with my beautiful family also. As an actress, you have to have other work while you audition, so it's great that every job I do I love."
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