X-EMMERDALE BABE IS HEADING BACK TO THE LIMELIGHT Roxy t to gain
ED GLEAVE TV Editor LUSTY lads are in for a treat because gorgeous Roxanne Pallett is going to be back in the spotlight.
The beauty, 33, has landed three acting roles after spending 18 months out of work.
For years she was a regular on primetime television while playing Emmerdale’s Jo Sugden.
In a candid chat, Roxanne admitted that former soap stars can struggle to find new roles.
She revealed she has even been ditched by so-called pals because she hasn’t been on TV lately.
Roxanne said: “When you’re applying for job after job and not getting anywhere it’s soul-destroying. I lost my identity and purpose as I had nothing to do.
“It got to the point where I didn’t even know what day it was. Without a structure all the days blended into one. That can be really damaging.
“I was climbing the walls, suffering from insomnia and anxiety and thinking ‘I’m done’.
“My life had been at 100mph when I was on Emmerdale and Dancing on Ice. But suddenly it was like someone had put the brakes on. And I just fell out of the loop.”
Roxanne started to think she had done something wrong. One friend even told her: “There are younger and prettier actresses coming up behind you now’.”
Another said she was “irrelevant” because she hadn’t done TV for a few years.
At the height of her fame, Roxanne notched up a string of awards nominations.
But she said: “Once I was out of work last year I stopped hearing from a lot of people. I went from having a busy social life to being forgotten. I lost any sense of belonging.
“When you don’t have a job you don’t have the social side of that. It’s a case of out of sight, out of mind. There were people who I’d taken on holiday and they didn’t seem to remember me. It was quite telling.
“Whenever I’m on TV all the other ‘friends’ come flooding back. But I’ve realised they don’t deserve my time.”
The Carlisle girl was on the verge of quitting acting for good at the start of this year.
She said: “I almost threw the towel in. Then I went to Memphis and in Graceland we heard stories about how Elvis got turned down.
“I thought ‘if Elvis could hold on for success, so can I’. I decided things would turn around. I want people who are struggling to get work to know they aren’t the only ones – you shouldn’t take it personally.”
Roxanne has landed roles in theatre drama Some Girls, gritty flick The Habit and stage show The Wedding Singer.
You can catch Some Girls at London’s Park Theatre until August 6. Visit parktheatre.co.uk.