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“Charity opened Vanessa’s eyes to her sexuality and they’ve gone on a journey together. She loves the fun and excitement of it all.”
Many fans have come forward to say the storyline has helped them come out to their friends too.
“We have such a huge following online, we’re thrilled,” she says. “I did a gig recently as part of the Emmerdale band and loads of #Vanity fans travelled from all over the country just to thank us.
“They told me that they were proud to be out and that they are who they are now because of this story. Before they’d never been able to talk about being gay and they’d all met on Twitter while watching the show and they formed a WhatsApp group. It’s like we’ve formed a little community which is so great. I definitely didn’t have that when I came out.
“I didn’t know anyone else who was a lesbian at that time.
“Perhaps being a lesbian did give me an advantage playing this role because I do understand it and what Vanessa is going through, I cared and was invested in the storyline because it was personal to me. When you do hear the stories of the young girls who are sharing their coming-out stories it does make you feel proud that you’ve helped them with that.” In real life Michelle married her long-term partner Rosie in April 2015 but last year she exclusively revealed to the Daily Star that she’d got divorced. She admits: “Last year was really tough, I went through the divorce, my grandad died and then I lost my best friend in the whole world, my grandma. But I’m in a good place now and actually feel the happiest I’ve been in a long time. I’m picking up a new puppy, a cavapoo called Fred, which I am excited about. “Me and my partner are ridiculously in love and happy and it’s lovely. I’ve decided this time round to keep this relationship private. I have been divorced nearly a year now and we split up way before that. But would I get married again? Yes! I don’t even hesitate with that. “What would be even better would be for Charity and Vanessa to have a big soap wedding! Who knows if they will get that far though.” Michelle couldn’t be happier that soaps aren’t afraid to reflect issues such as sexuality any more.
She says: “I still look back now at the Anna Friel Brookside kiss and what massive news it was at the time and I’m so grateful for how soaps and society have moved on from that. We’re just people falling in love.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s not hurting anyone! It’s only by soaps taking on storylines that reflect real life, which Brookside did so well back then, that helps to get people talking and accepting.
“That’s what we want to do and Emmerdale is brilliant at that. The dropping of labels is a big part of it too, you don’t have to be lesbian or bisexual, you don’t have to put a name on it.”
Shocking
She defends Corrie and Emmerdale against criticism for recent shocking storylines. “You need to tell stories on soaps,” she says.
“If you didn’t it would get boring. Old school Corrie would see a character buy a new coat and that would be the highlight of the episode. We have to move with the times.
“We need to take on current issues and get people discussing them. So what better platform than a soap opera which is going into your house every night of the week? You can’t always please everyone. And long may that continue!” ¬
Watch Emmerdale tonight at 7pm on ITV.