Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes McQueen on the soap, was left fighting back tears as she admitted her character’s cancer storyline ‘hits home’
Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe was visibly emotional as she revealed that her character’s cancer storyline ‘hits home’. The 41 year old, who has played Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 drama since 2006, is currently involved in a plot where her character faces bowel cancer following the show’s time jump.
The plotline resonates deeply with Jennifer as he father Colin tragically passed away from cancer when she was just 15 years old.
Speaking on Sunday Brunch with hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer, Jennifer shared the personal impact of the storyline, confessing that rehearsing certain scenes proved challenging due to the memories it stirred.
Reflecting on a particularly moving scene from Hollyoaks, Tim commented: “It can’t be easy doing that – playing that storyline.”
To which Jennifer responded: “No it’s not.” She elaborated on the personal significance, saying: “My dad died from cancer when I was 15 so it hits home every time,” reports the Mirror.
Jennifer praised the show’s writers for their work, admitting: “The script writers are amazing and when they give you the script I can’t even really rehearse it and I ask if we can just go straight for the take because it really does hit home.”
She also touched upon the support she’s received from viewers, adding: “This week has been very beautiful hearing what people think of the storyline. Lot of people that have had cancer are reaching out to me on Instagram and I’ve been chatting to loads of people this week and with women in a similar situation to Mercedes.”
“This is real life for some people and when they make such a strong character like Mercedes like that and they put the wig on and the makeup, I can barely look at myself without crying.”
Tim remarked: “People sometimes underestimate the importance of soaps and drama and with something like that, like you said people have reached out to you and they have realised that you are part of their life and they identify with Mercedes as a character and as an actor it must be fantastic to have that effect.”
Jen responded: “It’s amazing because sometimes you forget because sometimes you just think I’m just doing my job but then when you hear that feedback and how much it’s touching people it’s great.”
She continued: “Some people have reached out and said they’ve had changes so they’ve got tested for bowel cancer and me playing that role that raises that awareness and I realise it’s deeper than just going in and doing my acting.”
Sunday Brunch airs from 09.30am on Channel 4
