Biography
Gemma Oaten’s acting career began shortly after graduating from Drama Studio London in 2010, with a role in BBC’s Doctors. She has also appeared in BBC’s Casualty and Holby City, but is best known for portraying Rachel Breckle on Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, a role that earned her best newcomer nominations at the TV Choice Awards, British Soap Awards, and Inside Soap Awards.
In 2020, Gemma completed a nationwide UK tour with Bill Kenwright Productions in Alan Ayckbourn’s Ten Times Table, which topped the charts. Her theatre credits also include Up ‘n’ Under and Bedroom Farce. She returned to the stage in late 2022 as Shelley in the world premiere of Ladies Unleashed! by Amanda Whittington at Hull Truck Theatre, her hometown. On screen, she appeared in the award-winning film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool alongside Jamie Bell and Annette Bening, and recorded the audiobook for Louise Beech’s bestselling novel I Am Dust.
Gemma counts Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Tom Courtenay among her mentors and friends. Patrick Stewart encouraged her to use her public profile to raise awareness about mental health, eating disorders, and bullying.
In July 2019, Gemma delivered her first TEDx talk, "The Girl in the Mirror, the Woman on the Screen – The Reality of Eating Disorders," which is available on YouTube.
As CEO of her family’s charity, SEED Eating Disorder Support Services, Gemma frequently speaks across the UK on eating disorder awareness, resilience, and overcoming adversity. She serves as an ambassador for Anti-Bullying Pro and Prostate Cancer UK, dedicating significant effort to both causes.
Gemma regularly appears on daytime shows such as BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, BBC News, and This Morning, continuing her commitment to raising awareness about eating disorders while promoting major TV storylines and news events.
She is also the proud dog mom of Ruby Tuesday, a six-year-old Schnoodle who has already graced the cover of Dogs Monthly.
In addition to her acting and advocacy, Gemma runs workshops on confidence building, public speaking, team building, and acting. She speaks nationwide in schools, NHS settings, and corporate environments, delivering a powerful message about well-being, resilience, and eating disorder awareness.
Recently, Gemma appeared on BBC Doctors and ITV’s Coronation Street as Isla Hayworth, earning critical praise for her performance alongside Tyrone. She also featured on Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip and ITV’s prime-time show Million Pound Pawn, raising essential funds for SEED Eating Disorder Support Services.
In 2024, Gemma was invited to host her own show on BBC Radio Humberside. She is thrilled to work in a medium she loves while continuing her vital advocacy with SEED, which is gaining recognition at the parliamentary level and featured in recent reports on BBC Breakfast and The One Show.
Follow Gemma on social media:
Twitter: @gemmaoaten
Instagram: @gemma.oaten
