Reality television personality Gemma Collins has announced her departure from unscripted entertainment to pursue dramatic acting opportunities, specifically targeting a prominent role in the long-running ITV soap opera “Coronation Street.” Collins, known for appearances on “The Only Way Is Essex” and various celebrity reality shows, describes the move as abandoning what she considers a “career disaster” in reality franchises. Despite lacking formal acting experience, Collins attended Sylvia Young Theatre School and expresses willingness to undergo professional preparation for her soap opera ambitions, seeking to establish herself as a versatile performer beyond her established “GC” persona, though industry observers remain divided on her changeover prospects.
Former reality television star Gemma Collins has publicly announced her ambitious career shift from unscripted programming to scripted drama, specifically expressing her strong desire to secure a prominent role in the long-running British soap opera “Coronation Street.”
In early 2025 interviews with national media outlets, Collins, who gained widespread recognition through her appearances on “The Only Way Is Essex” from 2011 to 2019, described the ITV series as her “favourite soap” and emphasized her intention to pursue a significant character position rather than a brief cameo appearance.
Collins characterized a potential return to reality franchises like TOWIE as a “career disaster,” signaling her deliberate departure from unscripted television. The television personality, known for her appearances on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!,” “Dancing on Ice,” and “Celebrity Big Brother,” seeks to establish herself as a versatile performer within the scripted entertainment sector, marking a significant professional change from her established reality TV persona. This departure comes despite being in talks with ITV executives for an All-Stars edition of the jungle reality show.
Collins dismisses reality TV as a “career disaster” while pursuing scripted drama roles to reinvent her entertainment industry presence.
The career pivot represents Collins’s desire to explore new types of fame and industry recognition, following a pattern of reinvention that previously included ventures in fashion and business. Collins, who attended Sylvia Young Theatre School at age 14, brings performing arts background to her soap opera ambitions.
Despite lacking formal acting training or previous scripted television credits, Collins has expressed willingness to undergo professional preparation for soap opera roles, identifying particularly with strong, outspoken female characters that align with her established on-screen presence.
Industry observers acknowledge Collins’s potential to attract new viewers to soap operas due to her celebrity status and high audience recognition. Fan response across social media platforms has demonstrated intrigue and support following her announcement, though some skepticism exists within the acting community regarding her change from unscripted to scripted television.
Collins aims to contribute to both established storylines and potentially new narrative arcs, seeking to build a legacy beyond reality television through dramatic performance. Her aspirations focus on securing long-term character potential in major soap productions, representing a substantial departure from her previous television work.
The change faces potential challenges including typecasting risks associated with her well-known “GC” reality persona and anticipated high levels of public and critical scrutiny surrounding her dramatic television debut.
