Isabel Hodgins was "nervous" about her ‘Emmerdale’ sexual assault storyline.
The star’s character Victoria Barton is pregnant after she was raped in her own room by a man she’d just met after a night out, and the actress hopes to encourage people to speak out through her portrayal of the horrific events.
She told the Daily Star: "I was nervous when I was first told about this storyline, because it’s a big story and I wanted to do it justice, especially for all the women and men that have been raped.
"In earlier scenes following the attack, Victoria acts like a hermit and shuts herself away. It means that by the time she is convinced to tell the police about it, it’s too late to do a physical examination. This might help people realise that there’s a window for your best chance of prosecution.
"You need to come forward and have an examination so the police can collect all the evidence they can, which would give you a stronger case in court. I hope this will encourage other victims to come forward if something similar has happened to them."
Meanwhile Isabel, 25, revealed she has been allowed input in the storyline itself, despite finding it difficult getting "into the mindset".
She added: "It’s been so tough getting myself into the mindset, but director Mike Lacey, who films all the flashback stuff, spoke to me on the phone and we worked together.
"He’d ask me what I thought about things, and when I said ‘I don’t think that would have happened’ he listened to me, so it has been very creative. I have really enjoyed that aspect of it."
Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins was ‘nervous’ about difficult storyline
