Gemma Merna says that she was made ill filming for Hollyoaks.
Playing Carmel McQueen in the Channel 4 soap for eight years took a toll on her health, with the actress admitting tough storylines affected her health.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper she explained: "When you're on massive storylines, working 40 to 60 hours a week, you can guarantee you're ill by the end of it.
"You'd get really tired and completely run down, you'd need a holiday for a week or two afterwards."
The much-loved fan favourite will leave the soap tonight after an explosive train carriage scene, and now that Gemma doesn't have to spend hours filming the series she's eyeing up new roles, including Downton Abbey.
"'Downton Abbey' would be a dream. I'm naturally very pale too.
"I always have a spray tan and I have naturally dark hair and everyone said I looked like a Victorian child when I was little."
"I'd love to do a gritty drama and play someone manipulative, conniving, psychotic." she added.
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