Gemma Oaten was reunited with a hero from her childhood after a surprise encounter on holiday.
The former Emmerdale star, 39, took to Instagram to share the touching encounter with fans, as she described how she was reunited with Joyce, who cared for her when she was struggling with anorexia as an eleven year old.
Gemma – who played Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale and Isla Haywood in Coronation Street – began her story by explaining how she was on holiday in Majorca when she heard someone say her name.
“I turn around & approach the lady who softly spoke my name. Me – Me Gemma? Lady – I knew it was you! *gently* You don't remember me do you? I looked closer, as she took off her sunglasses & I knew, but I felt in shock.
“With that I felt incapable of drawing breath. Then I found myself holding her tight & quietly sobbing into her chest. Just like I had 28yrs ago.”
Gemma then explained how Joyce looked after her as a carer at the unit she was admitted to when she had anorexia at 11 years old and was “given twenty four hours to live”.
She described the unit as “a place that many who were meant to be helping me, treated me like I was nothing. Treated in a barbaric way, doing more harm than good.”
She continued: “One time, I wasn't allowed to ring my parents to say goodnight as a punishment for losing weight that day. I was 11yo, on bed rest, 24hr watch and the one thing that helped me sleep was hearing my parents tell me they loved me.
“Joyce was on watch that night & came to my bed, as I sobbed in her arms. She then led me quietly to the office & let me call home.
“I'll never forget it, & to this day when I do my public speaking & work with @seedsupportuk. I tell the story of Joyce whose kindness I believe kept me alive.
“I left the unit as my parents took me out, having seen what I was being put through & I never did get to say thank you to Joyce. Until now.”
Gemma posted several photos of her and Joyce along with her touching story, as fans rushed to thank her for helping the star through a difficult period in her life.
One fan wrote: “How lovely to see her x everyone needs a Joyce at times, I’m so pleased she was there for you when you needed her most”, while another added: “What a brilliant story, your strength and courage is admired by so many people”.
Gemma speaks openly about her past struggles with eating disorders and last year took fans on a journey as she got her teeth fixed after years of struggling with bulimia damaged her tooth enamel.
She got her smile back after life-changing dental surgery, telling her dentist: “You have changed the course of my life”.
Writing about her experience on social media, she added: “No one talks about eating disorders and the effect on teeth, and I wish to god someone had when I was struggling, if they had I may not have had to lose all my top teeth… but I'll use this as I always do, to grow flowers where dirt used to be in the hope it helps others.”
You can talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.
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