Hollyoaks' Victoria Atkin has admitted playing transgender teenager Jason Costello has 'been a test of my inner strength'. The soap actress revealed to thestage.co.uk her experience of researching the role of 16-year-old Jasmine, who was born a girl, but wants to live as boy in the Channel 4 soap. Victoria said: "It has been an out of the ordinary experience to say the least. Binding down my chest and changing into male clothes, while my fellow co-stars glam up in heels, has been a test of my inner strength as an actress. But I would not change it." The actress said she felt some of the reaction she had experienced to her role had given her an insight into the prejudice transgendered people face. She said: "The people I have met and the research I have gathered has made me aware of a world that is rarely touched upon in such detail. My eyes have been opened fully to the negativity within a society that unconsciously places judgement by automatically assessing their fellow man (and woman) solely on appearance. "I cannot begin to express how it feels to take on a character that is born into the wrong body. By concentrating on this topic, Hollyoaks has presented the general public with an insight into the life of a transgendered teen and, nearly a year on, what a journey it has been. "Jason's acceptance is growing, but the problem of harmonising his ideal body with the male exterior he now presents will, of course, be a lengthy process."
