Gemma Bissix is an English actress best known for playing Clare Bates in EastEnders and Clare Devine in Hollyoaks. She began acting as a child and became familiar to millions of British television viewers. Over the years, she has worked in soap operas, theatre, pantomime, reality television and charity projects.
Gemma Bissix: Early Life and Age
Gemma Louise Bissix was born on 6 June 1983 in Chertsey, Surrey. She is the eldest of five siblings and grew up in the Elmbridge area. Her parents divorced when she was 11, an experience that later influenced some of her personal reflections about family life and childhood.
As of 2026, Gemma Bissix is 43 years old. She became interested in acting at a young age and attended drama classes after school. Unlike many performers, she did not rely on years of formal drama-school training. Much of her early education came from working on a professional television set.
Beginning Her Acting Journey
At the age of nine, she auditioned for EastEnders. Producers initially planned to use her for only a few episodes, but she made a strong impression and remained with the programme for several years. This opportunity shaped her future and gave her valuable experience in front of cameras, directors and established performers.
She later explained that working on EastEnders taught her how to learn scripts, behave professionally and handle the pressure of television work. Barbara Windsor was also an important influence during her early career and helped her find an acting agent after she left the child-acting agency.
Gemma Bissix and EastEnders
Gemma Bissix joined EastEnders in 1993 as Clare Tyler, who later became known as Clare Bates. Clare was the daughter of Debbie Tyler and the stepdaughter of Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley.
The character was connected to one of the most recognisable families in the programme. Clare’s relationship with Nigel became especially important because he acted as her father after her mother’s death. Gemma remained in the role from 1993 until 1998, growing up on screen from a young schoolgirl into a teenager.
Leaving the soap gave her the chance to experience life away from television. She was still very young and wanted to enjoy a more ordinary routine after spending much of her childhood in the spotlight.
Her 2008 Return
Gemma Bissix returned to EastEnders in 2008 after a ten-year absence. The character of Clare Bates had changed significantly by then. She was no longer the innocent schoolgirl remembered by viewers. Instead, she was shown as an adult with a confident, manipulative and ambitious personality.
Although the return created interest among fans, it was short-lived. Gemma left the programme again later in 2008. She later explained that Clare’s adult personality was very different from her own nature and that the role allowed her to explore a more challenging side of acting.
EastEnders Return in 2026
In 2026, Gemma returned to EastEnders once again as Clare Bates. This comeback took place nearly 18 years after her previous appearance and was connected to Nigel Bates’s dementia storyline.
Clare returned to Walford after learning that Nigel’s health had deteriorated. The storyline focused on regret, family distance and the emotional effect of seeing a loved one lose his memory. Her scenes with Paul Bradley were particularly meaningful because the two actors had not worked together for many years.
Gemma described the experience as emotional and similar to coming home. She also connected with the storyline because someone close to her had experienced early-onset dementia. The 2026 return was planned as a short stint, although future appearances have not been completely ruled out.
Gemma Bissix in Hollyoaks
The Rise of Clare Devine
In 2006, Gemma Bissix joined Hollyoaks as Clare Devine. The character later used the names Clare Cunningham and Clare Devine-Banks. She was introduced as a glamorous and dangerous woman whose actions created trouble for many people in the village.
Clare Devine became one of the soap’s most memorable villains. She was involved in blackmail, crime, deception and dangerous family disputes. The role was very different from Clare Bates, allowing Gemma to show her ability to play a darker and more dramatic character.
She left Hollyoaks in 2007 but returned briefly in 2009. She came back again in 2013, when Clare was involved in another major storyline. The character was then believed to have died after being hit by a car.
The 2025 Comeback
Gemma Bissix returned to Hollyoaks in 2025 for the programme’s 30th-anniversary storylines. Clare Devine was brought back despite her previous death, creating one of the soap’s most dramatic comebacks. The return connected Clare with the Black family, Grace Black and DI Alistair Banks. Her storyline included criminal activity, family conflict and a struggle to escape the consequences of her past. A further short appearance was also connected with 2026 broadcast material.
Television Work Beyond the Soaps
Gemma Bissix has worked on a variety of television projects outside EastEnders and Hollyoaks. Her acting credits include Doctors, The Crust, Britannia High, Washed Up, Crime Stories and Ghetto Heaven. She also took part in a number of entertainment programmes. In 2009, she competed on Dancing on Ice with professional skater Andrei Lipanov. She also joined Celebrity MasterChef and reached the quarter-final stage.
Her other television appearances include The Weakest Link, Hole in the Wall, Total Wipeout, The Wright Stuff and a Sport Relief edition of Strictly Come Dancing. These programmes introduced her to audiences outside the soap-opera world.
Theatre and Pantomime Career
Stage Performances
Theatre has remained an important part of Gemma’s professional life. She has performed in touring plays, comedy productions, murder mysteries and family pantomimes. Her stage work includes The Game of Murder, Busybody and Funny Peculiar. She has also taken part in productions of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk. Pantomime has allowed her to combine comedy, drama and audience interaction. She has played roles such as the Bad Fairy and Cinderella, demonstrating a different style from her serious soap performances.
Awards and Recognition
Gemma Bissix won the British Soap Award for Villain of the Year in 2007 for her performance as Clare Devine in Hollyoaks. She later won the Best Exit award in 2008 for the character’s dramatic departure. Her performance as Clare Devine helped make the character one of the most recognised villains in British soap television. The role remains one of the main reasons she is remembered by Hollyoaks viewers.
Husband and Children
Gemma Bissix is married to Kristian Rouse. The couple married in July 2018 and have two daughters, Juliette and Vienna. Gemma describes herself on Instagram as a mother of two girls. She occasionally shares family moments online, although she generally keeps her children away from excessive media attention. She has also shared posts about family trips with Kristian, their daughters and their dog, Bruno.
Family life is an important part of her identity away from acting. Her social-media posts often show a balance between work, motherhood, travel, beauty and charity involvement.
Charity Work and Children’s Wellbeing
Gemma Bissix has supported the White Lodge Centre in Chertsey, which helps disabled children and adults. She has also taken part in fundraising activities connected with the Alzheimer’s Society. In 2026, she signed a charity car connected with a Rat Run from the United Kingdom to Benidorm. The vehicle was intended to be auctioned, with money raised for Alzheimer’s support.
She has also promoted TOTCHI, a project focused on children’s emotions and mental wellbeing. In a joint social-media post, Gemma discussed foster parenting during lockdown and audio stories designed to help children understand feelings, fears and neurodivergence.
Difficult Experiences She Has Discussed
Gemma has spoken about being bullied at school because she was known as a child actor. She has also reflected on the effect of her parents’ divorce during her teenage years. In an interview, she discussed experiencing a sexual assault when she was 15. She shared this as part of her personal story and later supported conversations about the difficulties faced by young performers.
Gemma Bissix’s Continuing Legacy
Gemma Bissix has built a career lasting more than three decades. She began as a child actor, became a major soap performer and later developed a varied career across television, theatre, pantomime and charity work. Her two best-known roles show different sides of her talent. Clare Bates is connected with family emotion and nostalgia, while Clare Devine is remembered for dramatic storylines and villainous behaviour. Her return to both soaps has confirmed her lasting connection with British television audiences.
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