Hollywood star has given me the confidence to show my bump… it’s my best-ever look, says Jorgie Porter
ACTRESS Jorgie Porter has praised pregnant Hollywood star Margot Robbie for giving her the confidence to show off her own baby bump.
The Hollyoaks favourite, who is expecting her second child with fiancé Oliver Piotrowski, is fully embracing this pregnancy after earlier miscarriages stopped her fully enjoying the experience with her first-born.
The 36-year-old star took inspiration from Barbie actress Margot — who proudly showed her baby belly on hols in Italy this summer — and even organised her own photoshoot, with her bump taking the starring role.
Jorgie discovered at her 14-week scan in August 2021 that she had lost the quadruplets she’d conceived naturally, and she suffered another miscarriage a few months later.
‘When I was pregnant with Forest I was just so worried, nervous and superstitious. But this feels
Jorgie
different so I just went for it!’
It meant she was anxious and had mixed emotions during her pregnancy with son Forest, now 23 months old.
In an exclusive interview, Jorgie said: “When I was pregnant with Forest I didn’t really celebrate enough.
“When people were like, ‘Can we celebrate?’, I was like, ‘No, no, no’.
“I wasn’t ready. I wanted to wait until I had my baby in my arms.
“I was nervous and panicky. I was feeling a bit superstitious and just so worried, but with this pregnancy everything feels different, so I really went for it.”
‘Looking amazing’
Pictures of Aussie Margot, 34 — who also started her career in TV soaps — left a lasting impression on Jorgie, whose baby is due in early December.
She said: “When I was expecting Forest, there was Rihanna with her bump out.
“And now Margot Robbie is pregnant, I was like, ‘Oh my God, yes!’
“I saw pictures of Margot in her swim-suit looking amazing and other shots with her belly out.
“When I see these celebs, I go on their pictures and I’m like, ‘What are they wearing? How are they making this look so great?’ ”
She added: “For this photoshoot, I just went for it. I ordered the most glamorous pink dressing gown I could find online, and I’m so happy because I think this is the best I’ve ever looked in my life. I love the pictures so much.”
On changing her mindset for this pregnancy, Jorgie said: “What I learnt is you can’t really waste every moment with fear, so this time round I’m just going to embrace every moment that I can.
“I have taken a bit of a different step this time, doing more things, but it’s also gone so quickly.”
One thing Jorgie is certainly embracing is her pregnancy boobs.
She said: “Oh my God, they are huge! It’s like I’ve got three boobs, the belly and the boobs!
“And after breastfeeding, no one tells you, but they just went so flat.
“I was like, where have they gone? But then within a few weeks of being pregnant again they were back.
“And I am loving them and I’m filling a bra again. Obviously they get a bit in the way — sometimes I can’t breathe, they’re getting in the way. They’re everywhere!
“Ollie says he loves it. He always says, ‘You look beautiful’. He’s really nice about it but I’m like, whatever — wait until I get on that fit bike.”
Jorgie, who has played feisty Theresa McQueen in Hollyoaks on and off since 2008, has been with property developer Ollie, 35, for four years.
Their house is over-run with boys as Ollie also has nine-year-old son Alfie from a previous relationship.
So Jorgie is thrilled to be expecting a baby girl in early December to “bring some sass”.
She said: “There was a lot of pressure to get a girl. Ollie takes Alfie out to football a lot and then Forest is also enjoying his football.
“I remember thinking, ‘If I have to do football for life this is going to be crazy’. You never know, my girl might enjoy football, but I’m quite excited for a bit of sass in the house!
“For me, when there are a lot of boys and you’re outnumbered, you have no choice but to embrace it.
‘He’s so cute’
“But I’m looking forward to when my girl can back me up. Everyone keeps saying that she’s going to be a mini-me but as long as she’s happy and healthy that’s all that matters.
“I have a feeling that she’s going to have brown hair like Ollie because Forest is so fair like me.”
While Jorgie has been in a positive headspace for this pregnancy, she has found it more physically demanding.
She said: “This time round has been a lot harder — my body has got heavier and bigger a lot faster, and picking up a toddler is difficult.
“I get into a squat position and I’m like, ‘Argh!’. It’s a lot harder and I think it’s gone a lot faster for me.
“I’m like, ‘Is this really happening?’. It’s gone so quickly.
“When it was my first time, I was there doing yoga, learning to breathe, rubbing my belly. This time round I go to work, get home, play with Forest, sort dinner, go to bed.”
Jorgie says the family will be complete once their daughter arrives and then she can concentrate on planning their wedding.
She said: “I am so happy. I feel like I’ve been pregnant since 2021, because of the miscarriages and then trying.
“I want to be able to fully enjoy the kids. Alfie is nine, he’s just amazing. Forest loves him so much. He’ll just pick him up when he’s crying.
“And I know Forest is going to be an amazing big brother, too. He’s so cute. He’s been playing with all the dolls at nursery, he’s become quite fatherly.
“We’ve really got so much to look forward to.”
Of her wedding, she said: “We’re not putting it off, but obviously babies are happening and I couldn’t be a pregnant bride. I’d have to be able to have a few wines at my wedding and dance all night! And of course the hen dos. Ollie wants three stag dos so I’m going to have three hen dos — they’re going to take a while to get through.
‘Very exciting’
“It will happen soon. We can’t leave it too long because Ollie is starting to think that I don’t want to marry him.
“He’s like, ‘Are we ever going to get married?’.
“It will either happen on a whim at the last minute and all be thrown together or we might have time to plan it properly.”
Jorgie finished filming with Hollyoaks on Friday, and is now on maternity leave.
I can’t say too much but my exit is very family-based — a few McQueens come back — which is always very exciting
Jorgie on her Hollyoaks exit
Bosses had to come up with a number of cunning ways to conceal her pregnancy bump, including dressing her as a pumpkin for Halloween scenes.
Although she is keeping tight-lipped about her big exit storyline, Jorgie teased it will involve the return of some of her onscreen family.
She said: “I can’t say too much but my exit is very family-based — a few McQueens come back — which is always very exciting.
“We’re filming Christmas at the moment — waddling around the village in heels and hiding the bump is hard.
“It’s quite funny how much you rely on your costumes, me with a big old belly kicking around. I’ll be carrying a big bag to hide the bump. I don’t even know if we’re getting away with it with viewers. For Halloween they dressed me up as a pumpkin, which was great fun and meant I didn’t have to hide my belly.”
Next year Hollyoaks will celebrate its 30th anniversary and Jorgie cannot wait to mark the milestone.
She said: “I just love work and I am obsessed with Hollyoaks.
“We’ve done so many firsts over the years and everything we’ve done recently, with the flash forward — well, it has all been incredible.
“I’m so proud to be a part of the show and we’ll have a huge party to celebrate turning 30.”
- Hollyoaks is available to stream on Channel 4 from 7am Monday to Wednesday, and airs live on E4 at 7pm.