Gemma Bissix

Gemma Bissix was born on June 6, 1983, in Surrey, England, UK. She began her acting career at the age of nine in 1993, securing the role of Clare Tyler (later Bates) in the BBC soap opera “EastEnders.” Having received no formal training prior, her time on “EastEnders” served as her foundational acting education. After her initial departure from “EastEnders,” Bissix took a break from acting, during which she managed a pub for two years, worked for her father’s electrical wholesalers, and was employed at Marks & Spencer as a bra measurer. Despite these ventures, her desire to act persisted, leading her to continue auditioning for roles. In 2000, she guest-starred in the “Doctor Who” radio drama “The Fires of Vulcan,” marking her return to professional acting, followed by a television appearance in an episode of the medical drama series “Doctors” in 2002. She also played Sadie in an episode of the CBBC show “The Crust” and performed in three pantomimes and several advertisements.

In April 2006, Bissix joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera “Hollyoaks,” taking on the role of Clare Devine (later Cunningham). She replaced Samantha Rowley, with producers aiming to transition the character from a likeable teenager to a more villainous persona. Her portrayal earned her two British Soap Awards. Bissix reprised her role as Clare Bates in “EastEnders” in 2008 for a brief stint, followed by another return to “Hollyoaks” as Clare Devine in May 2009. She returned again to “Hollyoaks” in 2013, where her character was ultimately killed off. Beyond soap operas, she appeared in the ITV musical drama series “Britannia High” in 2008 and toured in stage plays like Victor Leigh’s “The Game Of Murder” in 2009. She also performed in several pantomimes, including “Sleeping Beauty” (2009) and “Cinderella” (2010), and the murder mystery theatre production “Busybody” (2011). In 2012, she toured in Mike Stott’s comedy play “Funny Peculiar” as Shirley Smith.

Her television work includes a “Sport Relief” special of “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2008 with cricketer Darren Gough, and an “EastEnders” special edition of “The Weakest Link” in June 2008. In 2009, she participated in “Dancing on Ice,” being the first female eliminated. She also competed in “Celebrity MasterChef” in June 2009, advancing to the quarter-finals, and appeared on the BBC One show “Hole in the Wall” in October 2009, winning for the White Lodge Centre for disabled adults, an organization she patrons. In April 2011, she was featured on the Celebrity Edition of “Total Wipeout.” Since 2009, Bissix has served as a panellist on the Channel 5 talk show “The Wright Stuff.”