Nathalie Emmanuel says anyone who disrespects soap stars can "suck it".
The former ‘Hollyoaks’ actress – who played Sasha Valentine from 2006 to 2010 – has gone on to appear in the likes of ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Furious 7’ following her four-year stint on the Channel 4 soap, but she hasn’t forgotten where she cut her teeth in acting.
She said: "Anyone who says anything about soap stars can suck it as far as I’m concerned."
But Nathalie has admitted it wasn’t always easy playing a heroin addict on the soap.
Recalling one particular day on set, she said: "I came into work and somebody was really unwell, so we shot a different scene.
"It was when my mum died in the show. I was like, ‘Hang on a minute.’ I had to bring out performances I hadn’t had time to really get into."
And the star also defended soap stars who have other jobs, insisting not everyone is "privileged enough" to have financial backing from their family.
She added to The Guardian newspaper: "If you’re privileged enough to be born into a family who can financially support your creative dreams, that’s amazing.
"But not everybody has that. And to shame people for wanting to support themselves – she’s just being a mum and a good one."
Nathalie – who portrayed Missandei in ‘Game of Thrones’ – recently admitted she misses being in ‘Hollyoaks’.
When asked if she misses the soap, she exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Of course, it was a lot of fun."
But she doesn’t have the time to tune into the soap.
Speaking in January, she said: "I don’t watch it now. I don’t have time to watch anything at the moment."
Nathalie Emmanuel defends soap stars
