Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale star Louise Jameson has hinted at an unexpected new friendship on the horizon for her character Mary Goskirk – and has revealed that she doesn't want her to settle down just yet!
Arriving in the village back in 2022, Mary entered as Rhona Goskirk's mother. Since then, one of the character's defining storyline has been coming out as a lesbian later in life.
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Sitting down with Inside Soap as part of the magazine's first-ever Pride issue, Louise described Mary's coming out as "hugely liberating" for her.
"Inevitably there is some regret she didn’t acknowledge who she truly was any earlier. However, I think people can only come out an appropriate time for them," she muses. "There isn’t a blanket rule as to when you find the courage to tell your nearest and dearest.
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"Hopefully there will come a time when courage isn’t necessary, but while we are still in a society that can be so prejudiced, it’s important that its delicately handled by those around you, but more importantly by the actual person."
Although Louise says that she "wouldn't like to see Mary married off", she lists actor Kristin Scott Thomas as a suitable love interest for her character.
She also emphasises that she'd love to see an on-screen friendship between Mary and Bear Wolf that mirrors her real-life friendship with actor Joshua Richards, who plays him. And it looks like it could happen, with Joshua pushing for the idea behind the scenes.
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"Joshua wants the characters to become friends and maybe start solving crimes together!" she laughs. "I had a significant birthday recently, I turned 75 and had a gathering that Josh came along to where he pitched this idea to me.
"I think it’s wonderful. They’d have the kind of friendship where they row the entire time and get on each other’s nerves!"
Read our full exclusive chat with Louise in Inside Soap's Pride bumper edition, available to buy from Tuesday 9 June.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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