Ex-Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett transforms into an elderly woman for social experiment

Roxanne was not happy with the results

Published 11th Apr 2016

Ex-Emmerdale actress, Roxanne Pallett, has undergone a dramatic transformation into an elderly woman all in the name of a social experiment.

The actress, who is best known for playing the character Jo Stiles in Emmerdale, underwent hours of prosthetics and make-up to investigate ageism in the UK.

The 33-year-old described the experiment as a 'pretty brutal experience' and said she originally thought it would be fun.

After her make-up and prosthetics were complete, the actress went out onto the streets of Manchester as her new character, 90-year-old Doris, to carry out the experiment.

The actress later spoke about ordeal saying It made her feel 'lonely and invisible'. Roxanne felt she was overlooked by the public and felt she was being punished because of her age. She later said the experience left her with a 'really heavy heart'.

The Age UK ambassador also felt nobody was prepared to assist her at the times it was obvious she needed help. According to the actress, one man barged past her when she was walking down the street.

She also pointed out that younger people are noticed a lot more as in the past men have offered to help her with her suitcase.

Since leaving Emmerdale in 2008, the actress has stared in many theatre shows and is set to star in new British movie, The Violators, which is out later in the year.