Gemma Bissix, known for her roles in EastEnders and Hollyoaks, has spoken candidly about her struggles with self-doubt during her early years in the industry. The 42-year-old actress, who first appeared on EastEnders at age nine in 1993, admitted she often questioned whether she was good enough.
Reflecting on her younger self, Bissix said: 'When I was younger, I used to question myself a lot. I used to think, was I any good? We all have self-doubt, even now I still have my own little self-doubt.' She added that she wishes she could tell her younger self to believe in herself more and realise how brilliant she was.
Bissix credited EastEnders for teaching her the craft, as she never attended drama school. She fondly recalled how Dame Barbara Windsor took her under her wing and Steve McFadden taught her how to learn her lines. She also recently bumped into Letitia Dean, who shared stories about her childhood on set.
In 2006, Bissix took on the role of Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine, which she recently reprised for the fourth time. Her character met an ambiguous end after being pushed off a cliff. Bissix said balancing filming for both soaps while being a mother to her two daughters, Juliette, 10, and Vienna, 9, was tough but manageable.
Despite her TV fame, Bissix said her daughters are unfazed by her career. 'They don't even care. They watched a bit of Hollyoaks and they came up to the set... but they're not fazed by it. That's what it should be like, isn't it? I'm just mum.'
Bissix also revealed she has given up her usual pint of beer to maintain her weight, and enjoys watching reality TV like Love Island or Married At First Sight as a way to unwind from her acting work.
