Jemma Donovan

Career Donovan was 12 years old when she played Pippa in the BBC One television film adaptation of the David Walliams children's book Mr Stink. Donovan said working on the film made her fall in love with acting. She spent six months filming the series and she called it one of the best experiences of her life, as it taught her a lot about the industry. She admitted that she did not want to go back to school afterwards.

Donovan's final audition was for the long-running soap opera Neighbours. Her father, grandfather, and aunt had all previously starred in the serial. Donovan later admitted that she had not watched the show before she was cast. In 2021, Donovan returned to the UK to film a special storyline for her character, alongside Amanda Holden. Donovan's departure from Neighbours was confirmed in May 2022. She returned to the UK permanently after filming her final scenes, which were broadcast that July.

In October 2022, Donovan joined the main cast of British soap opera Hollyoaks as Rayne Royce. Donovan's character was part of a new group of 20-somethings living in a share house, which harks back to the serial's student-focused earlier years. Rayne was billed as a "party girl" and "a social media sensation." On 13 September 2023, it was announced that the character would be murdered as part of a whodunit storyline with her final scenes airing on 26 September 2023.

In 2025, Donovan has been singing backing vocals for Take That's Gary Barlow's The Songbook Tour across the UK & Ireland.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2012 Mr Stink Pippa Television film 2015 Spotless Maddy Bastière Main role 2019–2022 Neighbours Harlow Robinson 374 episodes 2019 Neighbours: Erinsborough High Main role 2023–2024 Hollyoaks Rayne Royce 86 episodes

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2023 National Television Awards Rising Star Hollyoaks 2023 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Hollyoaks