Emmerdale's Ash Palmisciano knew he’d get ‘stick’ for trans role
The actor plays Matty Barton, who used to be known as Hannah Barton
What did you miss?
Trans actor Ash Palmisciano has said he knew he would get “some stick” when he took his Emmerdale role but that knowing he is helping others makes it all worthwhile.
The actor, who came out as transgender in 2012, plays Matty Barton, who used to be known as Hannah. He joined the ITV soap in 2018 and said on This Morning that he knew it wouldn’t all be plain-sailing.
But he revealed the upside was being “a reference point” for others who may be going through the same thing as his character, sharing that he carries one letter from a fan he helped everywhere he goes.
What, how and why?
“When I took on this role it was a big decision because I come from a small town with a really lovely family and I was living as Ash and I didn’t have to put myself out there in the world,” he told hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.
“When I decided to take on the role I knew it was going to come with some stick… you know what it’s like when you put yourself out there.
“But one thing I got was this letter and I will never forget it. A young trans guy came with his mum to see a show that I was in and said, ‘Can you read this later, not in front of me?’
"And it was talking about what a difficult time they were having at school and how life had been really tough but just seeing this character made it easier to navigate school and to say, ‘Hey do you know what? I’m a little bit like Matty in Emmerdale so that’s it.’
“They didn’t have to go into all the dialogue. Just being a reference point, if it’s helped someone’s life it has been worth it.”
Palmisciano joined the soap six years ago after advising the show on a trans storyline, and said it has been “so important”.
“Growing up there were no characters like Matty on TV at all,” he said. “Where we were all growing up you want to see someone you relate to or maybe a little bit similar and it just helps you feel a little bit more like, ‘You know, I can have a great life, I can go out and be somebody and do stuff.’
“I think for us it’s great to be able to tell that story and just humanise it as well and break down those fears.”
Ash Palmisciano said prison storyline has been 'amazing'
Matty is currently at the centre of a tense storyline that has everyone gripped, with the character in jail for accidentally stabbing Samson Dingle (Sam Hall). He is set to confide in one inmate about the fact he is transgender.
Palmisciano said on This Morning that the plot has been “amazing to play”. “So terrifying, so scary, so great,” he said.
Deeley said things were going to get "tougher" for Matty and the actor agreed: "They are."
He went on: "Because he's got this cellmate that is sort of defending him. He's a bit of a rough kind of diamond, he's a good guy, sort of ended up in there and he wants to look after Matty but he needs to know the truth. But obviously once it's out, there are other characters in there that aren't as understanding - he is incredibly vulnerable... there's lots to come."
