I’m good at evil! I’ve even ‘killed’ James McAvoy

Gillian, 44, has spent two- and- a- half years in the ITV soap, with her character Emma Barton pushing husband James to his death.

“I’ve played a lot of killers on telly,” said mum- of- one Gillian, who is nominated in the Best Villain category at this Saturday’s British Soap Awards.

“I played David Suchet’s daughter in Murder In Mind and killed James McAvoy’s character.

“James is a lovely man. He was really young and not long out of drama school – but I had to burn him alive.

“I was the s u p p o s e d l yinnocent woman in Blue Murder who turned out to be the killer. And I’ve played loads of other evil characters.”

Emmerdale’s initial brief labelled Emma “the woman from hell”.

Since then she has been at

Gillian is nominated in the Best Villain category, as is Jake Wood (above, right) for his portrayal of Max in EastEnders. the heart of most of the about not getting found out. nastiness, deviousness and Even though she hates herself, manipulation in the show. she feels she has to do it.”

“She’s a real piece of work,” Trying to keep the secret admits Gillian. reached a low point when

“I’ve got to justify what she Emma duped dementia does because it’d be really patient Ashley – played by boring to play it the same way Jo h n Mi d d l e t o n w h o is all the time. nominated for three awards –

“I think she’s a survivor and into thinking he hadn’t seen in the past year, since killing her do it. her husband, it’s all been Ta k i n g

advantage

of someone so ill provoked a storm of condemnation from viewers on social media.

“I’m not on Twitter or Facebook and it’s probably just as well,” she said.

Gillian will fly back early from holiday in Spain to attend the 19th annual awards.

She faces competition from Corrie’s Connor McIntyre and EastEnders’ Jake Wood for Best Villain.

Instead of the ceremony being recorded for screening days later, ITV are showing it live for the first time.

It will be part of a big live showbiz weekend for the channel with the final of Britain’s Got Talent on Sunday.

It can be a wild night but Gillian says that the live aspect means everyone will have to be on their sober best behaviour.

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