Gemma Oaten had excrement thrown at her at school by cruel bullies.
Gemma Oaten
The 'Emmerdale' actress - who hails from Hull - has opened up about the awful bullying she endured as a schoolgirl and has revealed there were times when she would be hiding in a cubicle in the girls' toilets as faeces and tampons were hurled over the door at her.
In an interview with 'Good Morning Britain', she revealed: "I remember being cowered in a toilet and having excrement and tampons and things thrown over at me. Sorry, I get a bit emotional thinking about it."
Despite the terrible treatment she received at the hands of the bullies, Gemma doesn't feel sorry for herself and doesn't feel any hatred towards her tormentors.
She said: "I don't look back and think 'woe is me' from where I'm sat now. I don't know what those people are doing now. And I wish them well. Because here I am sat promoting an amazing cause."
The soap star spoke on behalf of Anti-Bullying Pro, a campaign that shines a spotlight on the plight of bullied children.
Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Will Poulter and former 'X Factor' act Only the Young have all shared their own harrowing experiences of bullying and Gemma has urged kids going through the same thing to speak up to put an end to the abuse.
She said: "I just wish I'd spoken up a lot sooner especially in my high school days. I didn't have the confidence and I didn't have the guts.
"Please don't do what I did, speak to parents, speak to teachers. Just be strong, call upon those that love you. They are there for a reason."
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