Theatre interview: Gemma Bissix in Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal Bath

Thursday 26th November 2009

Natalie Hale talks to Hollyoaks and EastEnders star Gemma Bissix about her wicked new role in Bath’s pantomime

She’s played the malicious Clare Bates in EastEnders and the downright demonic Clare Devine in Hollyoaks – and this Christmas Gemma Bissix will notch up a hat-trick of hateful characters, playing the Bad Fairy in the Theatre Royal Bath’s Christmas panto.

“I’m going to be really vile and get loads of boos – I can’t wait,” laughs the glamorous actress and model, who is sure to attract the dads to the panto.

“Sleeping Beauty is a fantastic fairy story and it looks like this production is going to be a really special one with a great cast, brilliant costumes and lots of audience participation. And a very evil fairy, of course.”

Gemma first appeared on our screens at the tender age of nine as EastEnders’ Clare Bates, stepdaughter to loveable Nigel (played by Paul Bradley).

The actress reappeared in the soap earlier this year when her character, wearing a somewhat revealing silver dress, was thrown from a passing car. The butter-wouldn’t-melt Clare of old had turned into a money-grabbing, man-eating vixen.

Between her stints on Albert Square, Gemma played Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine, the vengeful con woman who tried to kill her husband Max Cunningham and succeeded in murdering her arch enemy Warren Fox.

“Clare Bates is a minx and dresses to impress, using her sexuality to get where she wants, whereas Clare Devine kills people and tells little children that they’re the reason for their parents’ death!

“I did get a bit concerned about typecasting, having played these two rather nasty characters back to back, but it’s fun and I have been offered other things since.

“People do get confused between fiction and reality though. I’ve even had old ladies hit me with their handbags and tell me that I should be ashamed of myself. I just see it as a good sign of my acting skills, so I always say thank you!

“I loved playing mad Clare in Hollyoaks because it meant I got do more things.

“For example, I got to do lots of stunts – the stunt co-ordinators say they only get work when I’m in. You also seem to get involved in many more storylines when you’re a baddie – it’s much better than playing a nice character.

“I don’t know if you’ve seen the last of either of the Clares to be honest.

“There’s definitely scope for yet another shock return to either of the soaps.”

In addition to her soap roles, Gemma has appeared in musical drama series Britannia High, Hotel Babylon and toured in Victor Leigh’s stage play The Game Of Murder.

She has also turned her hand to reality television, appearing in Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Masterchef.

“While I’m happy to do reality shows for a bit of fun and a bit of money, that’s certainly not something I want to be known for,” she tells me.

“I’ve knocked those on the head now because if you do too many, people forget what you were known for in the first place.

“I’m an actress. That’s what’s in my heart and what I’ve grown up doing, so I’m looking forward to some more juicy roles on TV and on the stage.

“It’s been a great year, and the panto will be a fun way to wrap it up.

“I did my first panto when I was 15 and had just come out of EastEnders for the first time. I did them for three years running and really enjoyed myself.

“Back then, I always played the princess or Cinderella – not the Bad Fairy! Not the one who always gets booed!

“I think it will come easy to me though. I’ve played panto villains in soaps anyway – I just need to ham it up an extra notch!”

Sleeping Beauty appears at Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday, December 17, to Sunday, January 24. Tickets cost £10-£22 – call 01225 448844.