Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) is set to be the centre of a dramatic storyline in Emmerdale soon, triggered by her step mum Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) stealing her man.
Cast your mind back to the days of her ex-Nicky, when she was easily captivated by a good-looking man peddling a scam. She had no idea that he was out to get her, or that he was hiding the fact he was gay, all because she was so smitten.
‘She’s also very easily led by attractive young men. I don’t know if you remember what she was like with Nicky, but it was very similar,’ actress Rosie Bentham tells Metro as a hint of what’s to come. What she’s referring to here is both Gabby’s belief that Ross Barton (Michael Parr) must fancy her because she fancies him, and to Gabby’s obsessive nature.
This obsession is about to rear its ugly head when she’s once again rejected, something that was hinted at during her time with Vinny (Bradley Johnson).
Gabby became body image obsessed in the lead up to her engagement party. She just had to fit in her little dress, and starved herself to make it happen, while also over-exercising.
As a result, she passed out while driving her and Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), crashed the car, and hospitalised them both.
That seemed to be her wakeup call, but she’ll soon be triggered right back to the place that will see her become unhealthily body obsessed again as a means of taking control. It didn’t go too well last time, so there’s a hint of where this is headed.
The problem with disordered eating and body dysmorphia is it doesn’t just go away, and with Gabby now ‘craving male validation’ once again, as Rosie says, those two things are coming back to get her.
Now it’s happening again as she sees Vinny moving on and Laurel bedding the guy she was hoping to get her leg over. That’s soul crushing for anyone, but for Gabby – who expects to always get what she wants – it’s meltdown territory.
Speaking of the trigger of this downward spiral, Rosie revealed: ‘That rejection [by Ross] and seeing Vinny all over the village absolutely fine makes her be like, “let’s take control of our life, we don’t need anybody else”, and unfortunately that does become a bit obsessive.’
Gabby throws herself at Ross, believing him to be flirting with her. He is, but just for lols. He’s flirting with everyone but only has intentions on Laurel.
Ross rebuffing Gabby’s advances is labelled by Rosie as ‘the ultimate rejection’ and will ‘move into a bigger story’ for the entrepreneur as it blows her life wide open over the next year. Not to mention when she finds out Laurel bedded him instead.
‘She is obviously completely humiliated, but that propels her into wanting to take control, forget men, and become the best version of herself,’ Rosie says.
It sounds like a positive motivation, but it goes south fast. It starts with Gabby ‘trying to eat clean, and body image starts becoming really important to her,’ but Rosie adds, ‘she’s looking for something else to put her focus in and what can be seen as quite a healthy thing, investing in your health and everything, at what point does it become obsession and unhealthy?’
That is the ultimate question, as Rosie has already revealed this story will take shape over the next year, so will likely be a slow burner.
It doesn’t help that local matchmaker and brother of Gabby’s fantasy man Lewis (Bradley Riches) plans to try and get them together.
It’s going to be damaging for Gabby to learn of Laurel’s betrayal. ‘Gabby would see it as another kick in the teeth’, says Rosie. The saddest part and the biggest trigger of her downwards spiral, Gabby is left feeling like she has no one.
‘It’s like she has no one left now,’ Rosie shares. ‘…she hasn’t really got someone that she can bounce off. I think that’s why she gets so in her head about it all. And she’s like, “forget this. It’s me, myself and I now, let’s channel something else in my life”’. Sounds like Gabby might have some very dark times ahead.
