Being a soap star sounds great – but once the cameras stop rolling and the regular pay cheques dry up, it’s back to reality for a lot of actors.
Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa recently revealed she had to sell her house after leaving the BBC soap just to make ends meet.
The mum-of-two told the Sam and Billie Faiers podcast: “There’s been times where I haven’t had money. Before the jungle I was struggling. I had to sell my house.
“There’s no such thing for me as maternity pay, so when I had kids I had to leave and do magazine covers to make money to feed my kids.”
And Jacqueline, who also runs her own stage school for kids, is not the only soap star to have taken another job during stints out of the limelight.
Some soap stars decided to shun fame altogether and now have completely different careers.
There’s the Coronation Street star who is an award-winning cheesemaker, an EastEnders actor turned firefighter, and Hollyoaks actress who now works as a yoga teacher.
Here’s a look at the famous faces who quit their acting careers for more ordinary jobs.
Sean Wilson – Coronation Street
Better known as Martin Platt to Corrie fans, Sean Wilson was on the ITV soap for two decades.
During his time on the cobbles he was married – and divorced – from Gail Platt and is the father of David Platt. His last appearance on the soap was in 2018.
While still on Corrie, he set up the Saddleworth Cheese Company and now makes an award-winning blue cheese called Smelly Ha’peth.
He won a gold medal at the British Cheese Awards and has been a judge at both the international and global cheese awards.
In 2017, he landed a huge deal with Asda to supply his cheese to 180 branches.
As well as making and selling cheese, he also shares his expertise on the subject as a lecturer in Nantwich, Cheshire.
Luisa Bradshaw-White – EastEnders
Luisa Bradshaw-White played Tina Carter on EastEnders until her character was murdered by serial killer Gray Atkins in 2020.
The actress, who is also known for her roles in Holby City and Bad Girls, has since turned her back on fame and is now a dance teacher.
The 47-year-old has set up a dance school in Hertfordshire where she hosts ‘sober raves’.
Luisa got into it a few years ago after finding comfort in the exercise – which she says is the perfect way to experience the excitement of going out but without the hangover.
Attendees of her classes also drink cacao, from the tree which produces cocoa beans, which apparently helps create a sense of euphoria.
She said: “Everybody drinks the cacao, so there's a little bit of a ceremony.
“Then people just start dancing and I DJ the music to start really, really chilled and then the beat picks up and the cacao really opens your heart.”
Adam Thomas – Emmerdale
Adam Thomas starred as Emmerdale ’s Adam Barton for nine years before leaving the ITV soap in 2018.
When work dried up he started a job at a property management company owned by a pal and says he has made “a fortune” in between jobs.
The 33-year-old, who has two children with wife Caroline, told The Mirror: “I’ve got a family to support at the end of the day, so I needed some sort of income.”
Adam went on to become a property executive for Kamani Property.
He has since been back on screen with his brothers – twin Scott who has appeared on Love Island and actor brother Ryan Thomas, who was in Corrie.
They retraced their family roots in Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai.
Adam is also set to return to Waterloo Road for a new series which will air later in 2022.
Tony Discipline – EastEnders
He famously played Alfie Moon’s cousin Tyler Moon from 2011 to 2013, but after his stint on EastEnders Tony Discipline quit acting to become a firefighter.
The 32-year-old, who previously dated EastEnders co-star Jacqueline Jossa, often shares snaps in his firefighter gear.
While he still lists his job as being an actor on Instagram, it seems working for the London Fire Bridgade is his main gig these days.
Fans flooded to congratulate Tony on his new career choice.
While fellow ex-EastEnders star James Forde, who became a builder after leaving the show, commented: “Fair play geeza good on ya! We've both gone back down to reality!”
James Forde - EastEnders
Another EastEnder to opt for a more normal job is Tony’s pal James Forde, who starred as Liam Butcher on the soap from 2008 to 2015.
The young actor played the troubled teenage son of Bianca Jackson and Ricky Butcher.
Since his stint in Walford Square, the 25-year-old hasn’t taken on any more acting jobs and has a new career as a builder these days.
Describing his new role, James’ Instagram bio says: “Ex-Actor (Liam Butcher EastEnders ) now Bob the Builder.”
He adds: “Do you and be you. Do what makes you happy & feel good.”
Jeremy Edwards - Hollyoaks
Jeremy Edwards shot to fame playing Kurt Benson in Hollyoats from 1995 to 1999 before playing Danny Shaughnessy in Holby City.
But when the job offers started to dry up he became a labourer to make ends meet.
The 51-year-old insisted he has “happy to graft” after being spotted throwing dirt in a skip while working for a friend’s gardening business in 2011.
He said: “I don’t see the shame in manual labour. I don’t know any actors who work consistently without other work. There’s a lucky few, but not many. I had a good 10-year run.”
One plus side to getting his hands dirty, Jeremy found he was quickly buffing up and “gaining muscles”.
Jeremy returned to Hollyoaks last year to reprise his role as Kurt.
Katie Jarvis – EastEnders
Katie Jarvis played Hayley Slater on EastEnders until 2019 – and has since been spotted working in a B&M discount store in Romford, east London.
The 30-year-old actress, whose breakthrough role was in 2009 film Fish Tank, worked as a security guard after saying she had “taken a step back from acting” to get a job and look after her kids.
The mum-of-two says she has always had other jobs between acting gigs, including admin and waitressing.
After the story of her working at B&M hit the headlines, Katie said she felt “degraded” and “ashamed”.
She told the Victoria Derbyshire show: “All actors go through it over the years. I’ve had so many jobs in between, not just being a security guard.”
Kevin Kennedy - Coronation Street
After 20 years playing loveable Norman ‘Curly’ Watts on Coronation Street, actor Kevin Kennedy left the soap in 2003.
Following his own recovery from a 22 year addiction to alcohol, the 60-year-old launched a charity to help others facing the same issues.
The Kennedy Street Foundation has since helped hundreds of people across the country on their road to recovery.
He told Manchester Evening News: "The Kennedy Street Foundation is my passion; all we want to do is help people who find themselves in the desperate situation I was in 22 years ago."
He added: "Our national recovery helpline is receiving calls every day and we really need to raise as much money as possible in order to be able to help each and every one start their own Road2Recovery."
Aside from his charity work, Kevin has still continued to act and has appeared in Doctors, Holby City and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
He also played a hippie named Pop in Ben Elton's musical We Will Rock You.
Gemma Merna – Hollyoaks
Actress Gemma Merna played glamorous McQueen sister Carmen on Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2014.
Her stint on the Channel 4 soap even led her to winning Best Comedy Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2007.
But since her time on the show the 38-year-old has fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a yoga teacher.
While she still auditions for acting roles, it is yoga that is her main source of income these days.
She said: “I teach 10 classes a week and I love it. It’s great to find a passion in life and I find that yoga helps with the nerves with auditions.”
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