Gemma Atkinson worries about how social media might influence her daughter.
The 35-year-old actress – who rose to fame playing Lisa Hunter on ‘Hollyoaks’ – has been the victim of online trolling in recent years, and Gemma doesn’t want her 13-month-old daughter Mia to experience similar things.
The former soap star told the ‘Going For Goal’ podcast: "One of my biggest fears for Mia growing up, especially in the environment we’re all in now, with the Instagrams and the filters and the quick fix, these jabs and pills and stuff. It terrifies me that she’ll come to me and say: ‘Mum, I’ve read that if I do this injection it will make me thin.’"
Gemma – who has Mia with dancer Gorka Marquez – recently admitted she would love to return to ‘Hollyoaks’ to "cause havoc in the village".
The actress wouldn’t be able to make a permanent return due to her Hits Radio show, but Gemma would be up for a short stint on the programme.
She said: "I would always return to ‘Hollyoaks’.
"It’s because of that show I’m where I am today and have been able to do so much stuff since, it was my platform, my learning curve into the acting world and I’m so grateful to them.
"I couldn’t do it long term as I love my job hosting the drive time show for Hits Radio.
"We broadcast nationally across the UK but from Manchester so I get to be at home, which I love. But I’m sure Lisa could pop back for a few weeks to cause some havoc in the village."
One of Gemma’s biggest storylines aired in 2002 when episodes centred on Lisa self-harming, and the actress still feels "extremely proud" of the plot.
She said: "No TV show had ever done that storyline and it brought awareness to something a lot of people deal with. ‘Hollyoaks’ took the risk and it paid off and helped so many, which I’m extremely proud of."