Former EastEnders and Hollyoaks star Gemma Bissix stunned fans with her ageless

appearance at the Royal Ascot. The 41-year-old actress is best known for her role as

iconic villain Clare Devine and appeared across various stints, initially between 2006

and 2007, with shorter appearances in 2009 and 2013. The character staged one final and short-lived comeback in 2013, which saw her killed off in shocking scenes. Gemma got all dolled up for the occasion in an elaborate hat and red dress ‘Royal Ascot you were EVERYTHING and more!!!!!’ she penned on Instagram. ‘WHAT A DAY!!! Drinking champagne 10am til 10pm with amazing friends!!! Gemma Bissix played Clare Devine on the soap (Picture: Lime Pictures) ‘Betted and lost on every race (following Ryan Moore who had NO wins) but still the BEST Ascot yet!! Wore my 15year old Hollyoaks Clare Devine shoes … yes I kept them that long!!’ She added: ‘How I used to film and walk in them all day I’ll never know.

My feet are killing me today…as well as my head!’ Fans showed their appreciation for Gemma’s look, with @stephaniefinnanmua replying: ‘Wow you both look incredible.’ @hotknight44 added: ‘Stunning photos and you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress.’ Following her Hollyoaks stint, Gemma was honing her directing skills, and working on a production of Cinderella the Princes Theatre in Clacton in 2022. The show stars George Sampson and Cleopatra Higgins, star of 90s girl group Cleopatra. Speaking to The Sun, Gemma said: ‘I absolutely love directing. It’s incredible to have a vision and see it all come together. ‘This is the second panto I have directed but last year I performed too. It’s great to be able to sit back and not have the pressure of going on stage. ‘It has turned into a real passion. But I don’t think I’ll ever give up acting though… I’m too much of a show off!’ That’s good news for fans of the former child star, who also starred in EastEnders. Gemma joined EastEnders in 1993, playing Clare Bates, stepdaughter of then mainstay Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley). The character was written out of the soap in 1998, after Paul Bradley decided to leave the show, but returned for a short stint in 2008.