Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) faces troubling times ahead in Emmerdale, all because of Ross Barton's (Michael Parr) rejection. Ross flirted with Gabby to get her to agree to tutor Sam Dingle in dance, but Gabby misconstrued his intentions and embarrassed herself by throwing herself at him. Usually a confident woman, this rejection shakes her deeply, especially coming months after her fiancé Vinny discovered he was gay.
Gabby's Struggle for Control
Actress Rosie Bentham revealed to Metro: 'I think obviously with that rejection, and seeing Vinny all over the village absolutely fine makes her be like, “let’s take control of our life, we don’t need anybody else”.' These trying times see Gabby want to seize control of her life, but fans recall her history of obsessive behavior. With ex Nicky, she showed worrying possessiveness, and with Vinny, she experienced body dysmorphia leading to hospitalization.
Subtle Signs of Relapse
Hints of disordered eating are emerging. During a recent dance class, she refused chocolates for a protein bar and swapped cocktails for ice water. She also decides to revamp The Hide's menu with a healthier edge, receiving praise that spurs her on. Rosie says: 'I think she’s looking for something else to put her focus in and what can be seen as quite a healthy thing... at what point does that become an obsession and unhealthy?'
After the praise, Gabby is seen scrolling social media, falling into the darker side of the internet where obsessions with food and body image take a frightening turn. She will likely work hard to keep this secret. How long before someone notices something is seriously wrong?
