10 totally true FACTS about... Gaynor Faye
YOUR INSIDESOAP BRIEFING ON THE WOMAN BEHIND EMMERDALE ’S MEGAN…
1 Gaynor Faye – born Gaynor Kay Mellor – was born on 26 August 1971 to parents Kay and Anthony Mellor, and has an older sister, Yvonne. An early starter in the industry, Gaynor set up her own theatre company while only 17! 2 In 1995, Gaynor joined Coronation Street as Judy Mallett, who moved into No 9 with her husband Gary. In 1998, Judy gave birth to twins Rebecca and
William on Christmas
Day! However, less than a year later, after sustaining injuries in a road accident with Vera,
Judy sadly collapsed and died from an embolism while hanging washing in her back garden. “It was dramatic,” says Gaynor. “The blue make-up, the twins crying… When I walked off set and got to my dressing room, they were already taking the name plaque off my door!”
3 With her mum a successful TV writer – penning episodes of Corrie and creating hit series
such as Band Of Gold – Gaynor changed her surname as she didn’t want to be associated with her mother’s success within the industry. However, Gaynor did later star in several of her mum’s shows, including Playing The Field, Between The Sheets
and Fat Friends. “My mum makes fantastic dramas!” exclaims Gaynor. “But I’ve taken a break from acting in her work – I started to worry people would think I was only cast because we’re related!” 4 Gaynor also works behindthe-scenes with her mum, writing and scriptediting her hit shows, such as In The Club, Girlfriends
and The Syndicate. She wrote two episodes of
Fat Friends and still reads all her mum’s scripts to give her opinion. “We can cut through the flowery stuff and be direct,” she shares. “We don’t take offence easily, but I’m truthful and sometimes that’s met with a sharp look! She knows I have her best interests at heart.”
5 In 2012, Gaynor joined Emmerdale’s cast as feisty businesswoman Megan Macey – Declan Macey’s half-sister! Over the years, we’ve seen Megan track down her long-lost son Robbie, almost die in a fire while trying to rescue her brother, feuding with his fiancée Charity, and facing heartbreak when Declan accidentally killed Robbie. In 2015, Megan found she was pregnant with Jai’s baby – and went into labour in the middle of the woods. More recently, she’s had on-off relationships with both
Frank and Graham. 6 Despite being one of the most popular faces on television, Gaynor admits that she doesn’t have much confidence when it comes to red carpets and photo shoots, and often keeps away from magazine interviews too. “I’ve always been a private person,” admits Gaynor. “I rarely do print interviews about my personal life as I’ve had bad experiences. My legs shake uncontrollably on the red carpet. It all stems from low self-esteem. You have your picture taken, then someone else comes along and it’s like you don’t exist.” Well, Gaynor, we think you look cracking!
7 In 2006, Gaynor entered the first series of Dancing
On Ice, against the likes of Bonnie Langford (who would later be Eastenders’ Carmel Kazemi) and Sean Wilson
(Corrie’s Martin Platt). “I’ve never been so scared in my life!” confesses Gaynor. “It was the first series, so no one really knew whether novice skaters could learn all those moves.” Gaynor went on to win the series, and released a fitness DVD off the back of it. “I’ve still got my trophy,” she laughs. “But it’s broken! I dropped it 8 Gaynor has two teenage children – Oliver, born in 2001, and Lily, born in 2002. Their dad, Mark Pickering, was Gaynor’s partner for 10 years before they split in 2011. These days, with her children growing older, Gaynor says that she’s enjoying freedom once more. “I have teenagers now, so I can feel my independence returning,” she grins. “Party-girl Gaynor is creeping back in!” and the boot snapped off, so now it’s got sticky tape on it!” That’s not her only reality TV turn – in 1998 she popped up on
Celebrity Stars In Your Eyes as Spice Girl Geri Halliwell! 9 Gaynor reveals that she has an unlikely nickname… “My nickname is Zippy,” she chuckles. “After that character in the 70s series Rainbow! It started at school, because I’ve got a big mouth!”
10 Gaynor is a Buddhist – and has been for over 25
years. “I am a Buddhist for peace – happiness for me and everybody,” says Gaynor. “It’s so I can act with the best possible wisdom, courage and compassion, and it has a ripple effect. If everyone could chant, resonate and be happy, it would be a wonderful world.”