Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has opened up about her recent split from her partner, revealing that she is ‘thriving’.

Taking to Instagram, the Rachel Breckle star addressed how she’s feeling in the wake of her split, while reflecting on how other people have reacted to the news.

‘The amount of people that have said to me recently, “are you seeing anybody?”,’ She said, adding that people kept assuring her that ‘the right one will come along’ and ‘there’s someone for everyone’.

‘I don’t remember saying that I wanted anyone to come along,’ she pointed out. ‘I’m my somebody! What’s the everyone about?’

Reaching out to other people in a similar situation, she added: ‘I just wanted to say, ladies, men, if you’re single and you’re quite happy with it, and you’re alright and you don’t want any drama, don’t feel like you have to explain yourself.’

She expanded on her thoughts in the comments of the reel, writing: ‘​Don’t get me wrong, my heart is not closed. Anybody who knows me knows that I am such an open book—hence why I probably get hurt a lot! But I really want to try and normalise the conversation that you don’t have to be in a relationship.

​’Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you thought it “had” to, and you realise that being solo is actually the best route for you and your mental health right now. It’s not a waiting room; it’s a destination. I’m doing more than okay; I’m thriving.’

Her followers were quick to take to the comments to share their appreciation for her insight.

‘Good on ya girl best thing bout being single not having to answer to anybody,’ one said, while another added: ‘Better to be single than unhappy and feeling lonely’.

Gemma is probably best known to soap fans as Rachel Breckle, who she played from 2011 until 2014, before making a brief return in 2015.

During her time in the village, Rachel had a one-night stand with Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) and fell pregnant with his son, Archie.

Her first exit was orchestrated by Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), who had been married to Jai at the time of Archie’s conception. Having framed Sam Dingle (James Hooton) for the fire at Home Farm, Charity told Rachel that the only way to keep him out of prison was to take the blame herself and go on the run.

However, she later made a surprise return to testify against Charity when she was put on trial for her role in covering up Declan Macey’s arson.

In 2019, the character was killed off-screen, making Gemma’s exit from the show permanent.

She went on to have a role in Coronation Street, appearing in three episodes as Isla Haywood: The mother of one of Hope Stape’s (Isabella Flanagan) classmates and a potential love interest for Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall).

Away from acting, Gemma is the Chief Executive Officer and Patron for the charity SEED, an eating disorder support service set up by her parents, Marg and Dennis Oaten.