Yahoo News Hollyoaks' Gemma Bissix was once up for a role on Emmerdale
Hollyoaks star Gemma Bissix has revealed that she almost landed another soap role after playing Chester's nasty Clare Devine.
The actress spoke exclusively to Digital Spy ahead of a special week of Clare episodes on E4's Hollyoaks Favourites that aired this week and said that she did a casting for Emmerdale last year – but that the "bitchy" role might have been too stereotypical for her to play after her portrayal of Clare.
"I did it last March. I remember the character was quite bitchy, so I think that's part of the reason why [it didn't go further] – it would have been quite stereotypical for me to do it. It would have been another evil character," she explained.
Related: Hollyoaks star on disappointment over Clare death
"I think I would have to do something really different. I'd like to do something different character-wise. Because there's only one Clare Devine! I've had so many people messaging me about Hollyoaks Favourites and when I see all of the comments on Instagram, it's nice to see that it's very positive. People loved that character. I played it, but it was all due to the writing."
Unfortunately she can't remember which character she was up for in Emmerdale but that doesn't stop us dreaming about her propping up the bar in the Woolpack.
However the actress said that she's definitely up for another soap role at some point, saying that "soap has been my life".
EastEnders fans might also remember Bissix for her role as another Clare in the form of Clare Bates, a character she played as a child between 1993 and 1998 and then again as an adult for a brief period in 2008.
Related: Hollyoaks star on Sylver's surprise wedding plan
The actress told Digital Spy that her EastEnders role was "the most amazing work experience" and added that it taught her how to behave on set.
"I wouldn't be where I was without EastEnders," she said. "I learned so much. I learned how to behave myself! I giggled once on set and I got so told off by a director that I'd never do it again. If you don't know your lines on EastEnders, you do get very, very told off. You only get one warning and then you're out. It taught me great discipline."
Bissix also spoke about the "abuse" she used to get for playing Clare, saying that her character was so unpleasant that she believed that "it was the first time that people really hated someone".
Hollyoaks currently airs new episodes on Mondays and Tuesdays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7pm on E4. Classic episodes, titled Hollyoaks Favourites, air on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm on E4.
Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
You Might Also Like
