HEARTBREAKING: Coronation Street’s Emma Brooker actress reveals heartbreaking loss ‘Massive shock’
Alexandra explained that she lost her dad to a heart attack, but he wasn’t aware that he had a heart condition.
She told this week’s OK! Magazine: “He had a heart attack. We weren’t aware that he was ill.
“He just had chest pains and then the next day he had a heart attack and passed away. It was a massive shock.”
The Corrie star has since taken part in the Great Manchester Run to raise money for the heart disease cardiomyopathy.
Alexandra Mardell reveal heartbreaking loss (Image: INSTAGRAM • GETTY IMAGES)
Emma Brooker first arrived on the cobbles last year (Image: ITV)
She explained that while she doesn’t suffer from the condition, she does have a hole in her heart.
She said: “Luckily I don’t have the condition, but I do have a hole in my heart.
“I find it hard to run and have difficulty breathing, but I’m not sure if that’s the hole or being unfit [laughs]!
“I wouldn’t know as I’ve always had it. Everyone is born with one and they usually close up, but mine didn’t.
Steve McDonald has been revealed as Emma Brooker’s biological dad (Image: ITV)
Alexandra Mardell with her Coronation Street co-stars (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
“I’ll have check-ups every five years. My siblings are fine, thankfully.”
As to whether her dad would be proud of her joining the Corrie cast last year, the actress gushed that he would have gone “mental”.
She continued: “It would have been embarrassing, he would have gone mental!
“Before I was on any TV show, he’d always say: ‘My daughter is a star!’
I always said: ‘I’m going to be on Corrie one day!’
And while she has only been on the soap for less than two years, her character has already been embroiled in several major Coronation Street storylines.
She had a short-lived relationship with David Platt (played by Jack P Shepherd), who used her when trying to reclaim his masculinity after being raped by Josh Tucker.
And her latest shocking storyline saw her discover that she had a different father.
In August John Brooker (Noel White) revealed to Emma that he wasn’t her biological dad on his deathbed.
He told her that Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) was her father, leaving her completely stunned.
This is Alexandra Mardell’s first major television role, having also played a small role on Vera.
The young actress trained at Guildford School of Acting and is in a relationship with fellow actor Joe Parker.