Emmerdale’s Gemma Oaten has announced she’s single in a candid Instagram post. The actress, known for her role as Rachel Breckle in the ITV soap, has been open about the highs and lows of her relationship, and now she’s declared it’s officially over.
Gemma, 41, who has kept the identity of her boyfriend private, took to Instagram today, sharing a video from her sofa, donned in a pink sweatshirt, as she updated fans on her relationship status, jokingly referring to it as “breaking news”, reports the Mirror.
Asserting that she was ‘single but happy’, she stated: “I am single. DOUBLE BREAKING NEWS: I’m actually quite happy to be so.”
However, confessing that she felt “lonely” in the relationship, she added: “Seriously though… there’s a specific kind of heaviness that comes with feeling lonely in a relationship. It’s a weight you don’t have to carry anymore.”
Despite being “hurt”, she insisted her heart was still open, saying, “Don’t get me wrong, my heart is not closed. Anybody who knows me knows that I am such an open book-hence why I probably get hurt a lot! But I really want to try and normalise the conversation that you don’t have to be in a relationship.”
Highlighting the significance of mental health, she continued: “Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you thought it ‘had’ to, and you realise that being solo is actually the best route for you and your mental health right now.”
The actress concluded: “It’s not a waiting room; it’s a destination. I’m doing more than okay; I’m thriving.”
Gemma once dated DIY SOS star Nick Knowles; during their high-profile romance a decade ago.
The celebrity pair hit it off in September 2016 after crossing paths at the TV Choice Awards. They enjoyed a brief romantic getaway in Edinburgh, but the spark soon faded.
Before her romance with Nick, Gemma was in a relationship with Andy Barnes in 2014 and then dated Scott Walker for just over a year. These days, she prefers to keep her suitors’ identities under wraps.
Gemma is best recognised for her portrayal of Rachel in Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, a role that earned her a nomination for the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer.
Since departing the soap, she has featured in various television series and films, including Rise of the Footsoldier: The Pat Tate Story, Holby City and Coronation Street.
In addition to her on-screen roles, Gemma has also graced the stage in various theatre productions across the UK, including runs in Bedroom Farce and Up ‘n’ Under.