Emmerdale star Cathy Hope has had a lot to contend with after being diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder – but away from the cameras her life is worlds apart

Emmerdale’s Cathy Hope has been at the centre of a major storyline as she was seen battling premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which meant she was suffering with heavy periods and major mood swings for weeks.

So much so, viewers witnessed the teen go off the rails by binge drinking and in one episode she even attacked her father Bob Hope. But, in a bid to help her deal with her condition, Cathy left the village to stay with her half brother Scott Windsor. However, she has now returned and fans saw Cathy open up to Bob’s partner Wendy to explain how she is still struggling to deal with her emotionally draining condition.

But Gabrielle Dowling, who plays the teen in the ITV soap couldn’t have a more different life off screen. And here we take a look at her famous family, her co-star brother and finally reveal her real age. Gabrielle is not the only famous person in the Dowling household as her mother Louise has also shared a spot in the limelight.

Louise was once a famous professional dancer but decided to hang up her dancing shoes to pursue a career in acting. But unlike Gabrielle, Louise landed a number of small parts playing an extra in a number of productions. Keen to secure a brighter future for Gabrielle, Louise made the decision to sign up her unborn twins for a role in Emmerdale under the strict rule that it did not interfere with their home life. And it looks as though her decision paid off as Gabrielle has been in the ITV soap for 16 years.

But Gabrielle is not Louise’s only child to revel in the delights of starring in Emmerdale, so too is her twin brother Sebastian Dowling. In a case of life imitating art, Sebastian plays Gabrielle’s brother Heath in the soap. The pair joined the popular show in 2007 and have been regulars for 16 years. They say to never work with children or animals and those behind the scenes realised the truth behind this statement when they needed them to cry on cue. But along with their mother, production found a secret method to get the job done. Louise inform

ed them that her children who luckily had a placid nature, would only cry if hungry.

Speaking to The Examiner, Louise explained: “They sometimes want them to cry, which can be difficult because they don’t really cry much unless they’re hungry.” This meant that production would give the tots a bottle before taking it away for the scene, to prompt them to cry when needed – something which Louise had previously said she was fine with. She added: “It’s only for a few seconds while they film. I’m chilled out about it.” The twins play 16 year olds in the soap but in actual fact they are 17 years old. They made their soap debut aged four week’s old.

Speaking about joining the show, Gabrielle told Metro online: “I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to build the role that I’ve grown up with and develop the character of Cathy whilst learning from experienced actors and directors. I’ve been in the soap since I was four weeks old so it’s second nature to me. It’s one big family, everyone gets on and it’s a great atmosphere to work in.” She continued: “The studio and village have been a huge part of my life along with my brother’s. Having celebrated birthdays on set allowed me to feel close with the people around me and showed me how much of a family we are.”