Alexandra Mardell has opened up on her heartbreaking family loss as she prepares to appear on The Family Pile.
The 29-year-old is renowned for her role as Emma Brooker in Coronation Street. She quit the soap last year to pursue new career opportunities.
Alexandra is set to appear in her first role since she exited Weatherfield tonight in The Family Pile. The Liverpool-set sitcom premieres at 9.30pm and tells the story of four sisters who are selling the family home after the death of their parents.
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Alexandra appeared on today's edition of Loose Women to discuss her role as Gaynor in the show. Alexandra's dad died in 2016 after he suffered a heart attack aged 54.
The actor revealed how she channelled the grief she felt after the death into her performance. She said: "When you're an actor and you've been through something yourself, your obviously going to use that when you come to play the role. It's only going to help you play it better and more truthfully.
"In this case, on this show, unfortunately a lot of us had been through something similar. I think that helped us all make nice chemistry and hopefully tell the story more truthfully.
"There are some really poignant moments in it, it's not just all laughs, laughs, laughs. But then again, it's important to remember that when you are grieving there are times that you do laugh and have a good time. You're allowed to do that. Every one has got different ways of handling things.
"But you don't just have to be sad when you bring the family together when you have those memories. It's nice to think back to those points."
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