Gemma Atkinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gemma Atkinson
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Atkinson in 2012
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Gemma Louise Atkinson
16 November 1984 Bury, Greater Manchester, England
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| Partner(s) | Gorka Márquez |
| Children | 2 |
Gemma Louise Atkinson (born 16 November 1984) is an English TV and radio star. She is known for her roles as Lisa Hunter in the TV show Hollyoaks (from 2001 to 2005, and again in 2022). She also appeared in spin-off shows like Hollyoaks: After Hours (2004), Hollyoaks: Let Loose (2005), and Hollyoaks: In the City (2006). Later, she played Tamzin Bayle in Casualty (2011–2012, 2014) and Carly Hope in Emmerdale (2015–2017). Today, Gemma presents a popular radio show on the Hits Radio Network.
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Early Life and Education
Gemma Atkinson was born in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Her father, David, was from Dumfries, Scotland. Gemma went to Castlebrook High School in Bury, where she completed her GCSEs.
Gemma's Career Highlights
Acting on Screen
Television Roles
Gemma became famous for playing Lisa Hunter in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Her character, Lisa, and Ben Davies (played by Marcus Patric) even got their own spin-off series called Hollyoaks: Let Loose. In this show, their characters started a new life together. Another spin-off, Hollyoaks: In the City, followed.
Gemma also appeared in other TV shows. In 2009, she was in The Bill as Ria Crossley. She also played a paramedic named Tamzin in the BBC medical drama Casualty from 2011 to 2012, and returned for a short time in 2014.
From 2015 to 2017, Gemma played Carly Hope in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. In 2021, it was announced that she would return to her role as Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks.
Film Appearances
Gemma has also acted in several films. She appeared in the 2010 horror film 13Hrs and a UK gangster film called Baseline.
In 2011, she played Hannah in the romantic comedy How to Stop Being a Loser. This film also featured well-known actors like Richard E. Grant and Pamela Anderson. She then appeared in the 2012 film Airborne as Harriett.
In 2013, Gemma starred in a 3D remake of Night of the Living Dead and also appeared in Devil's Pass. She played Rhea Wagner in the 2016 Bollywood film Fever. Her most recent film role was in the 2017 horror movie Cain Hill.
Stage Performances
Gemma has also performed on stage. In December 2008, she starred as Peter Pan in the play Peter Pan at the Manchester Opera House.
From July to October 2009, Gemma was part of the West End show Calendar Girls at the Noël Coward Theatre. She played the character of Elaine. She also toured with the play in 2010, playing Celia.
In 2010, Gemma played the main female role, Belinda, in Neil LaBute's play This Is How It Goes at the King's Head Theatre in London.
Reality TV Shows
Gemma has been a contestant on many reality TV shows. These include I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity MasterChef, and Soapstar Superstar.
In January 2007, she made it to the final four of ITV's Soapstar Superstar, where she sang popular songs like "Who Knew" by Pink and "Fields of Gold" by Sting.
She also appeared on Celebrity Weakest Link in 2006 and Celebrity MasterChef in 2007. In November 2007, Gemma took part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in Australia, finishing in fifth place.
In 2008, she was on Celebrity Mastermind and co-presented the Play.com Live gaming event. She also appeared on All Star Family Fortunes with her family, winning £1,000 for her chosen charity.
In November 2008, Gemma appeared on Jack Osbourne's show Adrenaline Junkie. She tried exciting activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and swimming with great white sharks.
In 2015, Gemma competed on a celebrity edition of The Chase. Her team won, and Gemma took home £25,125 for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, a charity she supports.
In 2017, Gemma competed in Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. They reached the final and were very popular with viewers.
Other Work and Radio
Gemma has also done promotional work, including being the face of the 2007 British Grand Prix. She has modeled for lingerie brands like La Senza and Ultimo.
She appeared in music videos for Goldie Lookin Chain and Rizzle Kicks. Gemma also played Lt. Eva McKenna in the video games Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (2008) and Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising (2009).
From 2017 to 2018, she co-hosted the breakfast show on Key 103 radio. She then presented the breakfast show for Hits Radio and now hosts the drive time show on the Hits Radio Network with Mike Toolan.
Charity Work
Gemma Atkinson is very active in charity work. In September 2007, she ran a 5-kilometre (3 miles, 190 yards) race to raise awareness for breast cancer. In April 2008, she walked 228 kilometres (142 miles) along the Great Wall of China for Olivia Newton-John's breast cancer charity. This walk symbolized the journey cancer patients take to recover.
In 2008, Gemma designed a room for teenagers with a furniture store, working with the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) charity.
She has also taken part in the Great Manchester Run several times. In 2009, she ran 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to raise money for the New Children's Hospital appeal, finishing in 1 hour and 6 minutes. In 2010, she ran for Manchester's Christie Hospital and improved her time to 57 minutes.
In January 2016, Gemma became a vice-patron of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Lancashire. She ran the Great Manchester Run for this charity in May 2016. In late 2016, she supported the #gotyourback campaign, which helps military veterans get the support they need.
Personal Life
Gemma Atkinson is engaged to Gorka Márquez, a professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing. They announced they were expecting a baby in February 2019, and their daughter, Mia, was born on 4 July 2019. In January 2023, Gemma announced she was pregnant with their second child, a boy named Thiago, who was born on 19 July 2023.
Images for kids
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Gemma Atkinson in 2012
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Gemma Atkinson in 2006
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Gemma Atkinson in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Gemma Atkinson para niños
- List of glamour models
