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Oscar winner Rachel Shenton has paid tribute to Hollyoaks, saying that she is grateful for everything the show has done for her.
Shenton picked up the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film along with Chris Overton for The Silent Child, about a young deaf girl who learns from a social worker how to communicate via sign language.
The former soap star, who penned the script for the drama, spoke to the Belfast Telegraph about her time on Hollyoaks. She played Mitzeee Minniver between 2010 and 2013, and she said that she was "extremely proud" to be part of the programme.
"We owe a lot to that show," she said. "I'm extremely proud of Hollyoaks. No one could be flying the flag more happily.
"What I think is that it's an excellent training ground, especially for actors who are starting out, because the schedules are so thick and fast, you have to adapt.
"I wouldn't have met Chris if it wasn't for Hollyoaks."
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Shenton added that she found the whole experience at the Academy Awards "surreal".
"Talk about bizarre," she said. "Meryl Streep had been sitting yards away from us all evening, looking so calm and serene. I guess she's a seasoned Oscar nominee.
"We'd followed Salma Hayek down the red carpet earlier, not quite knowing what to do with ourselves. It was such a surreal evening – one of those things where you can't take it in when you're right in the epicentre of it."
Hollyoaks' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood previously congratulated Shenton, saying: "Everyone at Hollyoaks is thrilled for the outstanding success of our much-loved ex-colleague Rachel Shenton at the 2018 Oscars.
"The Silent Child is an inspirational, beautiful story, and we send our love and congratulations for her very worthy win."
Hollyoaks airs on Channel 4.
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