What is she like? Who? Gemma Winter, of course. She first appeared in a rundown pub in October 2014. She is one of those characters who certainly divides opinion. Initially, I found her nothing more than an irritant, a sidekick to the drug dealer Callum and his henchmen and an old friend of Kylie's. She was loud, brazen and brash; her only claim to anything was that Callum trusted her, as it surely seemed he did. She wore his trust as a badge of pride, subsequently revealing that she was/is in love with him.
The odd thing is that Gemma is still very outspoken, brash and brazen, but now, I find those characteristics refreshing - all irritation vanished. The reason for the disappearance of the annoyance is that Gemma is no longer in the shadow of Callum and has become a character in her own right. I relish every moment she is on screen. Her dealings with Bethany's bullies were impressive and suggests that she has long experience in dealing with girls such as Lauren and her crew.
Despite her rough and ready approach to life, there lurks a certain vulnerability about her. This was displayed in her getting together with Jason. She provided comfort after Jason had propositioned Eva and received a knockback. I was impressed by Eileen giving Jason a piece of her mind concerning his using Gemma. Eileen's words must have hit home because later Jason invites Gemma for a drink in The Rovers. He apologises too for his ungentlemanly treatment of her and is more than happy to accept, though is clearly surprised. One night stands may be the norm for Gemma, so for a man to treat her as a human being may well have been both pleasing and surprising. Gemma accepts Jason's invitation with alacrity and plonks herself down opposite Phelan and Eileen.
We know almost nothing about her background, but it seems that there was nothing much in it that could be described as stable. Does she have a family somewhere? Was she brought up in care? Over the coming weeks these details will perhaps be revealed.
My hope is that she is kept on long after the 'reappearance' of Callum. She is of a similar type to Becky and Kylie and look how well those characters evolved.
Dolly-Rose Campbell, who plays Gemma, is a skilled performer - more of her characterisation of Gemma Winter please. Many say that Corrie is lacking in humour lately - well here is Gemma to provide some, as well as casting a little sunlight on those often too gloomy cobbles.
Ruth - on twitter @Ruth1722
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Download our free App | Visit Corrie.net
Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
25 comments:
I have to totally disagree with you Ruth.
I don't find her funny or refreshing. She is just gobby and rude. Dislike her immensely, did when she first appeared and still do.
I love her, completeley agree with Ruth. To me, her vulnerability came through after Callum died and she turned up at the Platts saying she had nowhere else to go. No mates, no family, nothing. All she ever had was Callum.
I love her and always have. She was a great side character and I'm thrilled she's been brought back. They are bringing out more of her personality, the vulnerable side which will make her easier to take for some people. Yes, she's of a similar vein to Beck and Kylie and their characters were grown and fleshed out. Once someone believed in them, be it Roy and Hayley or David for Kylie, they gained confidence though didn't lose their edge and I hope we get to keep Gemma for awhile. I did feel back for her the other night. She was invited for a drink with Jason and got herself all done up for a date, but it was clear Jason's heart wasn't really in it.
I agree with the blog - I found her irritating at first, but I've thawed towards her. She is funny and can deliver her lines with great timing.
Not sure if she has 'staying power' but she's definitely a diamond in the rough.
Have to disagree strongly re.your comments about the actress being a skilled performer. I find her acting amateurish in the worst sense. Her comic shtick seems solely to involve shouting loudly and gurning. There's obviously a concerted attempt to make the character more pakatable going on at the moment. But,I don't think that the actress has the acting chops required. The scene with Eileen on Monday was well written,but Dolly Rose just couldn't cut it when it came to showing any subtlety or feeling. I think that it's unfair to even compare her with Becky and Kylie,as both have so much more talent an were impressive from their earliest scenes.
Love her!! Everyone knows this person in real life...the one with no social graces, no filter, thinks she's gotta be tough to get on in life. Bet they clean her up and she becomes a lovely addition to the street. She and Ches seem to get a long well!
'A diamond in the rough' Well said C in Canada! I am of the same opinion as Ruth. As much as I loved Becky and will miss Kylie, the only thing I was not fond of was the screaming. So I hope with Gemma's character, focus is placed with plenty of comedy and drama minus the exaggerated screaming as mentioned.
Agree with 70's Street Fan about the acting skills.
Nasty character played by a poor actress.
Well, obviously Gemma is going to be a Marmite character! In the real world, she wouldn't have turned up at the Salon without Audrey getting full details of a potential apprenticeship. Audrey would have given her short shrift and that would have been that. More likely, Gemma would have found another gang to hang around with once she'd lost Callum's protection. However, the writers play god and can turn a character into whatever they like. Gemma could win a million at bingo, discover untapped business skills and take over the factory. I'll suspend disbelief for now and watch how the actress plays this character and hope she's given at least half-way realistic storylines.
Well, obviously Gemma is going to be a Marmite character! In the real world, she wouldn't have turned up at the Salon without Audrey getting full details of a potential apprenticeship. Audrey would have given her short shrift and that would have been that. More likely, Gemma would have found another gang to hang around with once she'd lost Callum's protection. However, the writers play god and can turn a character into whatever they like. Gemma could win a million at bingo, discover untapped business skills and take over the factory. I'll suspend disbelief for now and watch how the actress plays this character and hope she's given at least half-way realistic storylines.
Not sure what all the excitement is about...the actress doesn't seem to deserve either the abuse--she plays her part competently--or the excessive praise. The character gave me the creeps though when she Callum's hanger on; the way she helped Callum play cruel mind games on Bethany made me think of the damaged, manipulative women who help male pimps recruit/coerce girls into prostitution and drug dealing--one moment their friend and confidant, the next helping the pimp isolate them and undermine their confidence. That was the dynamic the three conveyed (at least to me) and the reason I take her personality transplant now with a shakerful of salt.
Plus, she doesn't successfully convey the vulnerability that Becky did in her early days. Even when Becky did something really nasty and spiteful--like when she turned on Kelly Crabtree and set her up for theft, after Kelly spurned her friendship--you could really feel the character's loneliness, jealousy, longing to be loved. Gemma doesn't have that subtlety or depth--she's more of a Cilla type character than Kylie or Becky. Maybe would be good with Chesney, she could whack some life into him in a way the delicate and diffident Sinead can't. Then set Sinead up with a character she has more chemistry with and who could give her a jolt of electricity. Sinead and Chesney have to be the dullest couple on the set at the moment--even more boring than Claire and Ashley. Hopefully though Chesney is getting ready to stay in Portugal--seems to be leading into that.
Gemma was indeed scary when we first met her, willing to do anything for the creepiest of all Creeps, Callum. How could she do that? Was she so desperate? Of course. And that hair-do! Impossible to relate with Gemma then. Reading the actor's bio here at the blog changed my mind to give her a chance. But I hated when she wouldn't budge from David's couch.
Because I like what I'd read about Dolly Rose (what a great name!), I was interested to see what she'd do back without The Creep, and better hair. She seems the type that will flourish with a bit of friendship around her. I think viewers forget what Becks looked like when she first arrived, before we knew how she would scrub up, especially after she left Corrie. https://cecescecrets.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/coronation-street-becky-rampage.jpg
Oooh, just read Anonymous at 21:10 and agree that Gemma would be great with Chesney. True, she may not convey subtlety and nuance, but not every great Corrie female did. She may grow to come out with some of Corrie's best lines. but it depends so much on the writers and other staff.
Anon 21.l0, I hope you are right about Chesney staying in Portugal! If only Izzy and Jake would join them. I find Chesney as boring as dishwater. Sinead is a lovely girl and needs to meet someone interesting and fun.
Very much in the Team Gemma camp!! Funny....sassy....gal...love it!! Has similar spitfire to that of Becky and Kylie!
If Chesney manages to find his way back from Portugal, he should definitely be with Gemma - how many men look for their mother in a mate? Cilla's doppelganger for sure. That would free Sinead up to enter into a love triangle with Luke or Andy. At least she has potential and isn't a dull, miserable jerk.
The only one for Sinead would be Spider. Bring him back, please.
EEEW no, Spider would be way too old for Sinead, it would be like putting a father with daughter. Just wrong!
Talking about Cilla's doppelganger, I always think Beth is the image of Cilla and would have been perfectly cast as her daughter!
Totally agree about Cilla and Beth, looking alike. Even their personalities have similarities. And I agree Chez, Izzy and Jake should all go to Portugal for good.
@ Anonymous 7:44 - True, Spider would be too old for Gemma now. I guess I still think of him at the age he was when he last visited his Aunty Emily. :)
I'm starting to love Gemma. I hope they develop her character but keep her true to her gobby roots. Corrie has a pattern of taking the rough characters and turning them into more "genteel" folks - look at the Windass and Battersby clans.
Excellent point Karen. Yes Corrie does that well, gradually making the characters a little more civilised!
The word you're looking for is palatable.
Post a Comment