Gemma Merna – Carmel McQueen from Hollyoaks

The name of the sweet Gemma Merna reads like an Italian poem, but make no mistake: this British bombshell was born and raised in Manchester. A former model, Merna is best known for her portrayal of Carmel McQueen in Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks Later.

Sadly, Merna saw her Hollyoaks character get “killed” by the writers and was forced to leave the soap. In 2017, she retired from acting. Married to her long-term boyfriend Ian Minton since 2012, Merna has become an online influencer and animal rights activist since leaving British TV. In 2021, she announced publically that pet owners should need to have a license before buying or adopting.