CORRIE GEM: I WAS CLOSE T0 ENDING IT ALL
Anorexia fight star planned out suicide
CORONATION Street’s new star Gemma Oaten has told how she planned to kill herself with a drug overdose while battling anorexia.
The former Emmerdale actress spoke publicly about her ordeal for the first time in an exclusive interview with the Daily Star Sunday.
Gemma, who developed the eating disorder aged 11, said: “I planned to take my own life when I was about 19. “I was in an eating disorder facility and I was storing my sleeping tablets to take an overdose.
“They used to prescribe them like they were candy. A lot of us got hooked on them.
“I stored them up and had as many different pills as I could ready to go. “I also had stolen and hidden a knife ready to do… well, I don’t even really want to think about what I was going to do.”
Gemma’s battle with anorexia has been well documented.
She has previously spoken about the numerous times she almost died during her 13-year fight with the condition, including when she had a heart attack at 18. But until now she has never spoken about planning to kill herself. Gemma, 37, who has also starred in Holby City, said: “It feels so surreal now, but that’s the point I was at.
“I had been battling anorexia for nearly 10 years.
“I had been close to death a few times before. My body was so weak I had a heart attack about a year before.
“I was just tired and wanted the pain to stop.
“I couldn’t live like that anymore. I was at a unit and just wanted to be at home with my family.
“The staff didn’t think I was well enough to go home and advised my parents to keep me in for my own safety, but I pleaded with them to take me home.
“Thankfully, my dad took me home and that scenario didn’t happen because if he had left me in there I wouldn’t be here now to tell the story.”
Earlier this week, Gemma joined Corrie as Isla Haywood, a potential new love interest for Tyrone Dobbs, played by Alan Halsall.
Fans are loving her performance – her first acting job for 18 months due to Covid – and hope it opens the door to a permanent role.
Gemma, who played Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale, became manager of her parents’ eating disorder charity,
Seed, to save it from closure due to a lack of funding during the pandemic.
She has appeared on Loose Women, BBC Breakfast and Lorraine demanding more awareness of eating disorders and mental health problems.
Gemma added: “I went through 13 years of hell, but if I can get through what I went through and turn my life around then so can other people.
“We have a mental health pandemic right now and the Government isn’t doing nearly enough.”
For help with eating disorders, visit seed.charity or call 01482 718130. You can also call Samaritans for free any time on 116 123.