Hollyoaks Hollyoaks' Emma: 'I'm having acting lessons!'

Feb 2, 2010

Hollyoaks Emma Rigby talks about the dramatic exit she couldn’t resist and why she has to leave the show...

Hannah knows Jamie was involved with drugs before, so why does she trust him again?

"She’s very vulnerable. She’s had a lapse and gone into her eating disorder again and Jamie has come back at the worst possible time. He’s the love of her life and she thinks he’s offering her a new start."

Instead she barely escapes with her life... What happens?

"Their flight’s delayed and they’re in a hotel when drug boss Blue turns up wanting the £5,000 Jamie took. There’s a fight and Blue gets stabbed ,then when Darren comes to rescue Hannah, he gets stabbed too."

And yet Hannah still leaves…

"Darren tries to persuade her to stay... but as I’m leaving he obviously doesn’t succeed."

How do you feel about leaving?

"Probably frightened! It’s a fickle industry and I know I’m not going to walk into a job straight away. But I’m only 20 and I haven’t got any commitments so it’s the ideal time to go and see what happens."

How did you feel about returning to the anorexia storyline?

"I was pleased because it was done differently. This time Hannah was in danger of dying. But there is always a chance to recover and get help and we owed it to the viewers to revisit it and show that."

Can you remember your first day at Hollyoaks

"Vividly. I came in for rehearsals with my mum. I’ve had to grow up fast.

What are you going to do next?

"I’m having acting lessons. I didn’t go to drama school. I did a drama club at weekends and got chosen to star in Brookside when I was 12."

What have your final days at Hollyoaks been like?

"Full on. I keep losing my voice as I’ve been doing so much shouting."

What will you miss most?

"Getting up and acting every day."