She’s bubbly, bright and larger than life, so it’s no surprise that TOWIE icon Gemma Collins loves Christmas. During her chat with Closer, Gemma, 34, is beaming from ear to ear, her blonde curls coiffed to perfection and her false eyelashes longer than ever, as she says in her instantly recognisable Essex accent, ‘I just love this time of year!’
But despite her festive spirit, it’s been a turbulent few years for Gemma. She split from ex James ‘Arg’ Argent – who she rose to fame on TOWIE alongside – in 2020, after a toxic eight-year on/off romance, amid his drug and alcohol struggles. The pair had previously been open about wanting to start a family together, and Gemma, 43, had suffered two miscarriages with him.
But a year later she reconnected with her ex-fiancé Rami Hawash, 49, with the pair getting engaged for a second time later that year.
Fast-forward three years and the GC is absolutely loving her role as stepmum to Rami’s son, Tristan, six, and is hoping 2025 brings her a child – or children – of her own.
Gemma has led a more private life in the past 12 months, stepping away from reality TV to focus on her family and spending time with friends, including her BFFs Jedward.
But Gemma tells Closer she’d love to return to the screen next year, and has set her sights on Hollywood. She also shares her Christmas plans, how she feels about ageing and her dreams for motherhood…
Hi, Gemma! Is being a stepmum magical at Christmas?
It really is. I mean, I treat everyone in my family like they are children anyway at Christmas, but I think as I’ve got older, I like to make memories.
Are there lots of kids around at Christmas?
My brother just had a new baby: little Ronnie Alan Collins. He’s only a month old, so for us this Christmas is going to be extra-special because we’ve got a new baby in the family. [It’s] all boys so the family are all waiting on me. I saw a fortune teller the other day and she told me I was going to have twins.
What are you most excited about doing with your family?
I’m really looking forward to doing a Christmas cake with my dad. I really love to cook – I’m doing all the cooking on the big day. My nephews love my roast dinners.
Any other guests popping by?
[Jedward] will be there on Christmas Day. It’s not Christmas without Jedward!
We’re surprised they didn’t enlist you for their Christmas single!
Well, they asked me to. They came to me and said, ‘Gemma, we’ve got this Christmas song,’ and I listened to it and said, ‘Oh my god, that’s a number one. Ring Ed Sheeran and get Ed Sheeran to stick it on his label.’ But we think it’s going to blow Ed out of the water.
We’ve seen a lot of The Only Way Is Essex stars returning to the show recently. Would you ever consider going back?
I would love to go back on TOWIE. I love TOWIE, but my agent says, ‘Gemma, if you were ever to go back now, it would be a career disaster for you.’ When they do a reunion in a few years’ time, I’ll probably be the Posh Spice of TOWIE.
Do you still tune into the show?
I’m really fond of TOWIE, [but] recently I was disgusted by what went on with Harry [Derbidge] and how he was treated. Off camera, Harry was at my house a lot and I was consoling him.
What exciting projects have you got in the pipeline?
I’ve just done Who Do You Think You Are? with the BBC. I’d like to go and do some more reality TV – there’s always so much happening in my life, you definitely need the cameras on, so when the right thing comes up.
Would you ever branch out from reality television?
I am talented, and obviously I did get into TV through reality TV, but there is a lot more to my talents. I want to go into acting – I’d just like a small part in EastEnders or a really gritty drama. I don’t want to play a character like me [or] how you think I’d be.
Like Danny Dyer in Rivals?
Yeah. He was so good. I just need someone to give me that chance because I love acting and stuff. And I’m getting older now and as I get older, I feel like my performance is better because I know more about life.
Have you become more fearless?
Oh yeah, I don’t give a shit. I’d love to do a show with that Miriam Margolyes; I’d love to go around the world with her. She needs to come to Essex!
Closer spoke to Gemma at the Quintessentially Foundation’s Fayre of St James’s Christmas carol concert in aid of The Firefly Project. See more at quintessentiallyfoundation.org.
