# Gemma Merna

Gemma Merna (born 6 February 1984) is an English actress and model. She is best known for portraying Carmel McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2014.

## Career

Merna joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in August 2006. In 2007, she won Best Comedy Performance in 2007 at the British Soap Awards. In 2008, Merna appeared on the game show All Star Family Fortunes in a Hollyoaks v Emmerdale special. In February 2013, she appeared on All Star Family Fortunes playing against gardener, garden designer and television personality Diarmuid Gavin.
In 2009, Merna appeared in the spin-off show Hollyoaks Later as Carmel. She also appeared in an episode of the game show Hole in the Wall.
In 2011, she appeared in the documentaries 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers and Hollyoaks Best Bits.
In 2013 and 2014, Merna was a panelist in an episode of Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
In January 2014, she was a contestant on the ITV diving show Splash!, fronted by Tom Daley, she was the first contestant to be eliminated from the show in Heat One.
On 24 August 2014, it was announced that Merna had decided to leave Hollyoaks and would leave in November 2014 in one of Hollyoaks' biggest stunts. Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Merna's on-screen sister Mercedes McQueen, announced her decision to leave the soap opera a few days after Merna's announcement. The character was killed off in an explosive train accident on 12 November 2014, with cast members and television critics praising Merna's performance in her final scenes.
On 8 September 2014, Merna appeared on the panel show Virtually Famous, presented by Glee actor Kevin McHale.
On 25 October 2014, Merna appeared on a special celebrity episode of The Chase.
In 2017, Merna appeared in an episode in TV show Doctors. She also joined former TV mum Nicole Barber-Lane as teammates on the 28 October 2017 "Soaps" episode of Pointless Celebrities.
In January 2022 Merna announced on a Instagram post that she is returning to filming.
As of April 2024, Merna has joined the cast of Coronation Street as 'Rebecca' and hopes to have an extended stay.

## Personal life

Merna was born in Manchester and grew up in Worsley where she attended St. George's RC High School, Walkden.
She was engaged to long-term boyfriend Ian Minton and they married in 2012.
In a 2009 interview with Closer magazine, Merna said that having a breast enlargement at the age of 21 was one of the best things she ever did and that it gave her so much confidence.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Type | Role | Notes |
| 2006–2014 | Hollyoaks | TV | Carmel Valentine | Regular role, 567 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Hollyoaks Later | TV | Carmel Valentine | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Hole in the Wall | TV | Herself | 1 Episode |
| 2011 | 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers | TV | Herself | TV documentary |
| 2011 | Hollyoaks Best Bits 2011 | TV | Herself | TV documentary |
| 2008, 2013 | All Star Family Fortunes | TV | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2013, 2014 | Big Brother's Bit On The Side | TV | Herself | 2 episodes, guest |
| 2014 | Splash! | TV | Herself | Heat 1, contestant |
| 2014 | Virtually Famous | TV | Herself | 1 episode, panelist |
| 2014 | The Chase Celebrity Special | TV | Herself | 1 episode, participant |
| 2014 | Daily Brunch with Ocado | TV | Herself | 1 episode, guest |
| 2024 | Coronation Street | TV | Rebecca | Guest role |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2007 | The British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Nominated |
| 2007 | The British Soap Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Won |
| 2007 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2007 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Performance | Nominated |
| 2007 | 13th National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2008 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Couple (shared with Ricky Whittle) | Nominated |
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Performance | Nominated |
| 2010 | The British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Nominated |
| 2010 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2010 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Wedding (shared with Whittle) | Nominated |
| 2012 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2013 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2014 | The British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Nominated |
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2015 | 20th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated |