I was an Emmerdale star but now I sell weed for a living – I’ve quit the soap and the UK and I’m never coming home
A FORMER Emmerdale star has opened up about her new life living in Thailand after quitting the soap and the UK.
Soap fans will remember Emmerdale's Ali Spencer who arrived in the village in 2011 to join sister Rachel Breckle, played by Gemma Oaten.
![Kelli [left] played Ali Spencer in Emmerdale](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fcd8d088-695b-41af-af56-920dfe75aedc.jpg)
Ali turned up with girlfriend Ruby Haswell and children Amelia and Sean. But, following Ruby's death in 2015, she left for good.
And it wasn't just Ali who had a fresh start. Kelli Hollis, who played her, has told how she quit the UK to move to Thailand where she sells weed for a living.
Smoking cannabis for personal use was legalised in Thailand in 2022 and now Kelli, 47, runs La Choza Pratumnak bar in Pattaya with partner Martin.
She said: "I am never coming home, never going home. Obviously I miss England and there are aspects of my life there like I have two grown up children at home and a grandson.
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“But you only live once and I have learned that a lot over the last few years, losing friends to things and my friend losing a child and it just makes you access a lot of things in your life."
Opening up about her new life, Kelli added to the Daily Star: "This would probably have been more likely than me being an actress.
"I actually don’t like the feeling [of being stoned]. But to be honest I have become a little partial to the edibles here obviously because I have to test the products.
"But that is not to be stoned. I promote ours for rest and for aches and pains for people who don’t want to smoke so I will have mine before bed."
It comes after Gemma, 39, revealed she's making a big return to soapland.
She will be appearing in BBC daytime soap Doctors - 13 years after having her breakthrough on the medical show.
Writing on social media, Gemma said: "Writing online, the soap star said: "Super excited to share some telly box news!
"Hello from Dani who will be appearing in @doctorsbbc next Monday 5th Feb!
"Absolutely buzzing to be asked back to the show that gave me my 1st ever TV role within 2 months of graduating from Drama school, some THIRTEEN YEARS AGO!"
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