Emmerdale's Samantha Giles discusses change she made to Bernice
Emmerdale star Samantha Giles has opened up on making a subtle change to her character.
The soap star has been playing Bernice Blackstock on-off since 1998, but introduced a new personality trait upon returning to the series in 2012. In a chat with Inside Soap, Giles revealed she decided to turned the B&B owner into a ditzy character to soften some rough edges.
"When I very first played Bernice in 1998, she was straight-talking. She'd say things and not realise how they sounded!" she said, adding: "She was more intelligent when I initially played her."
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"When I came back, they started writing her as a bit bitchy," Giles continued.
"I thought, 'No, this isn't right', so I introduced a bit of ditziness to try and avoid taking her down that road," she then added.
"You do have to protect elements of your character while also being willing to evolve."
Giles also said she doesn't often get recognised when out and about, explaining this must be due to her style differing from that of her character.
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"I have my hair and makeup different, and I'm just a lot more casual," the actress said.
"The way they dress Bernice is quite distinct with the high heels, but I hate her clothes with a passion!
"Her stuff is just quite old and stuck in the 1990s, but that's why she's perfect to run the B&B.
"Because you meet people like that, don't you, who are always so pristine? But that couldn't be further from me!"
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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