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We’ve Watched These British Soap Stars Many Moons Ago, But Where are They Now?

By

Ami Ciccone

, updated on

March 26, 2021

Anita Dobson – EastEnders - Age 71

Not only is Anita Dobson an accomplished actress, most notable for her role as Angie Watts in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders. She also has a song called Anyone Can Fall in Love that reached the top 10 in the UK singles charts.

The song was based on EastEnders' theme song, meaning she capitalized on her and the show's popularity. This was probably a piece of wise advice from her husband Brian May, a songwriter and legendary guitarist of the band Queen. In 2021, she featured in Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Anna Friel – Brookside - Age 44

Anna Friel may be famous for more prominent roles in shows like Marcella and films like Limitless and I.T. But before all of that, she got her big break in the now-canceled soap opera, Brookside, playing Beth Jordache's character.

She gained further fame for her role as Charlotte "Chuck" Charles in the ABC fantasy drama series Pushing Daisies and has won several awards, including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Awards, among many more. She has also had roles in The Girlfriend Experience and Odyssey. She'll soon be starring in a TV series called The Perfect Girlfriend.

Barbara Knox – Coronation Street - Age 87

Barbara Knox made a good impression in her first appearance on Coronation Street as Rita Tanner. So good that her cameo appearance in 1964 eventually became a regular role in 1972. She was so endearing that she played the character for just under 50 years, setting a few records along the way.

One of those records was her being the second-longest cast member on Corrie behind William Roach. She is also the longest-serving actress in a soap opera in the world. She has won Best Actress at the TV Times Award, Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Award, and a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Barry Sloane - Hollyoaks - Age 40

Barry Sloane has been around the block in the British scene in film, television, and stage. Some of his most notable films include the BAFTA Award-winning Pleasureland and The Mark of Cain. He also starred in Willy Russell's West End play Blood Brothers but is most notorious for his Hollyoaks role.

Sloane is notorious for it because he played Niall Rafferty, a serial killer that terrorized the small town's residents for a year. His portrayal earned him three award nominations, including the British Soap Award for Villain of the Year. His last on-screen appearance was in the 2019 series Bluff City Law.

Ben Hardy – EastEnders - Age 30

Ben Hardy is one of a few British soap actors who made it big in the Hollywood film industry. He made a pretty big splash, too, gaining fame for his two-year stint as Peter Beale in EastEnders before hopping across the pond and making a star turn as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Hardy then earned further major blockbuster cred for his role in the acclaimed biopic Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, playing Drummer Roger Taylor. He followed this up with a role opposite Ryan Reynolds in the 2019 Netflix film 6 Underground and 2020's Pixie. He now has an upcoming role in the 2021 film The Voyeurs.

Ben Kingsley – Coronation Street - Age 77

Sir Ben Kingsley is a veteran of the film scene with a career that spans over five decades and includes many British and Hollywood films and series. One of his most notable roles was as Mahatma Gandhi in the Richard Attenborough film Gandhi.

For that role, Kingsley won several awards for Best Actor, including an Oscar, BAFTA, and a Golden Globe. He also won a Grammy for a spoken word album called The Words of Gandhi. Kingsley has a role in the newly released film called Locked Down. He also has a bunch of upcoming projects, such as The Way of the Wind and Dali Land.

Beverley Callard – Coronation Street - Age 63

Beverley Callard has had a few memorable roles. She is most notable for playing Liz McDonald in the popular long-running soap Coronation Street. But she is also famous for being on the British sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, where she played Flo Henshaw.

Callard is renowned for being a fitness fanatic, having released several books and workout videos and writing a fitness column in the Daily Mirror newspaper. She has, however, taken time out of acting, citing her battle with clinical depression. She was last seen in 2020 on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.

Bruce Jones – Coronation Street - Age 68

Bruce Jones's most memorable role was as the outspoken taxi driver Les Battersby in Coronation Street. He played the role from 1997 to 2007. He also had a small part in the smash hit movie The Full Monty and appeared in the film Twenty Four Seven opposite veteran actor Bob Hoskins.

Post Corrie, he picked up roles in shows like Celebrity Wife Swap and did stand-up comedy in the Spanish town of Benidorm. But he came on hard times, and it was revealed that he was living on benefits in 2015. Jones has since picked up several roles, including the upcoming Dark Ditties Presents 'Stained'.

Catherine Tyldesley - Coronation Street - age 37

Catherine Tyldesley gained fame for playing Eva Price in Coronation Street from 2011 to 2018. She is also notable for other parts, such as Iris Moss in the drama series Lilies and Karen Norris in the sitcom Scarborough.

She also had a short period on the soap Emmerdale, and like most British soap stars, has also been on a host of reality shows such as Strictly Come Dancing. She got paired with South African dancer Johannes Radebe on the 2019 series of the show, where they left in the 11th week. Tyldesley is set for a role in the upcoming 2021 mini-series Viewpoint.

Charles Lawson - Coronation Street - Age 61

Charles Lawson gained popularity for his role as Jim McDonald in Coronation Street. He was a prolific character from his debut in 1989 until roughly 2000, when his character went on the backburner a little bit. But that didn't mean he wasn't getting any work.

While he was sporadically playing his character in Corrie, he was starring in Comedy Central sitcoms like Brotherhood and documentaries like Titanic: Birth of a Legend. He also took to the stage and held notable roles in plays like Long Shadows. He, however, suffered a stroke while doing the play in Edinburgh.

Charley Webb – Emmerdale - age 33

Charley Webb was just 14 years old when she started playing Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale. She first appeared on the show in 2002 and earned a British Soap Award nomination for the Best Female Dramatic Performance. She was a stage actress before Emmerdale and once had a role in the play Bugsy Malone.

Webb also had a role in a British period drama called The Royal, and her older brother is Jamie Lomas, who is also an actor with a role in rival soap Hollyoaks. Webb also recently featured in an episode of the talk show Loose Women, where she talked about her baby named Bowie.

Cindy Marshall-Day – EastEnders - Age 53

Cindy Marshall-Day may have last been in an episode of the morning talk show This Morning, but she was pretty prolific in her heydays. She is well known for her three-year stint on soap opera Crossroads, but she had movie cred before taking on that role.

Some films include Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Snakes and Ladders, and Fiddlers Three. After leaving Crossroads, she had one more role in an episode of the series The Afternoon Play. She was caught up in controversy when her abusive husband was arrested and jailed for breaking a restraining order. He passed away in a fire in 2019.

Georgia Taylor – Coronation Street - age 41

Currently playing Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street for a second run, Georgia Taylor gained her initial popularity with her first run on the popular soap. This first run was between 1997 and 2003, and in that time, she won the British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance.

Between her two runs on the show, she had notable roles in shows like Casualty, where she played Ruth Winters, and Law & Order: UK, where she played Kate Barker. She also had roles in episodes of New Street Law, Where the Heart Is, Red Cap, and Lilies.

Eden Taylor-Draper – Emmerdale - Age 23

In the soap Emmerdale, the Dingle family is one of the largest and most popular. That's why there are so many featured in this story, like Belle Dingle, who is played by Eden Taylor-Draper. She took on the role from Emily Mather at the age of six in 2005 and has made it her own.

Taylor-Draper is notable for playing the character in a storyline where she toppled down a mine shaft. She has also won several awards for playing the character, including Spectacular Scene of the Year and Best Young Performance at the British Soap Awards.

Jennifer Metcalfe – Hollyoaks - Age 37

Jennifer Metcalfe has made her character Mercedes McQueen such a popular character that she plays the character in both Hollyoaks and the spinoff show Hollyoaks Later. She cut her acting teeth in a children's show called My Parents Are Aliens and even had a small part in rival soap Emmerdale.

Metcalfe left Hollyoaks for a short while in 2014 but returned in 2015 and confirmed that she was back for good. This was despite many believing that the character got killed off. She also participated in the 2011 edition of the winter show Dancing On Ice. She was the seventh celebrity eliminated from the competition.

Gemma Atkinson – Hollyoaks - Age 36

Gemma Atkins gained popularity for her role as Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks. She also starred in the spinoff series Hollyoaks: After Hours, Hollyoaks: Let Loose, and Hollyoaks: In the City. She also played Carly Hope in Emmerdale from 2015 to 2017.

Atkins is a beloved glamour model as well. This came after she lost weight and had her bosom enlarged, which she said was necessary after the weight loss had reduced its size. Atkins became one of the most prolific models in the UK after getting featured in three men's magazines in one month. Currently, she is a host on Hits Radio Network.

Gemma Merna – Hollyoaks - Age 37

Hollyoaks is renowned for its beautiful and strong female characters. Gemma Merna plays one of the most iconic ones in Carmel McQueen. She played the role from 2006 to 2014 and managed to portray the character's mix of comedic dumb blonde and caring human being to the tee.

The showrunners killed the character off in 2014, and Merna went on to go on shows such as The Chase and Virtually Famous. She hasn't done any acting since a 2017 episode of Doctors. She has since become a yoga instructor teaching Vinyasa Flow at Liverpool Yoga Studios.

Georgia May Foote – Coronation Street - Age 30

Georgia May Foote became recognized as a 14-year-old actress in the school drama series Grange Hill. She gained even further popularity when she starred as Katy Armstrong in Coronation Street. Her stint on Corrie was short, lasting from 2005 to 2008, but she became a popular figure in her time on the soap.

Foote left Corrie to pursue a career in modeling and other notable acting opportunities, and in 2015, she became the runner-up of BBC's celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. One of the shows she recently starred in was The Outpost, which aired new episodes in 2021.

Gillian Taylforth – EastEnders - age 65

Gillian Taylforth is one of those rare actresses who get what they want from writers. For example, after ending her first run as Kathy Beale in EastEnders in 1998, her character was killed off. But when she wanted to return in 2015, the writers made a plan and wrote her character back in.

While she was away, she pursued roles in shows like Footballers' Wives and The Bill, among others. She even had a stint in Hollyoaks. She is currently still playing Kathy Beale and also has an upcoming film called Coming Up in post-production.

Helen Flanagan – Coronation Street - Age 30

Of the three actors who played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, Helen Flanagan made the biggest impact. After taking over the role from Emma Collinge in 2000, she was nominated for a British Soap Award for Best Villain. She also starred in several Corrie spinoffs. One of those was a show specifically for her character called Just Rosie.

Flanagan left Corrie in 2012 and was featured in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Wedding Planner. She returned in 2017 but left for maternity leave in 2018. She was last seen in a 2021 episode of Lorraine and birthed her third child in March 2021.

Ioan Gruffudd – Harrow - Age 47

Hollywood viewers may remember Ioan Gruffudd as Dr. Reed Richards in the 2005 film rendition of the Fantastic Four comic franchise. But before then, he was cast as Horatio Hornblower in the Hornblower TV series. The Welsh actor began acting in Welsh soaps like in Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley).

His role as Reed Richards opened doors for him to films like Fireflies in the Garden with Ryan Reynolds and Julia Roberts. He also starred in a biopic about the life of George W. Bush, playing the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He plays the lead character in a series called Harrow, which last aired episodes in 2021.

Jack P. Shepherd – Coronation Street - Age 33

Jack P. Shepherd had minor roles in shows like Where the Heart Is and a tv mini-series called This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. But he really made it big playing David Platt in Emmerdale, taking over from Thomas Ormson. It was a good change, too, since he gave the character some real gravitas.

Shepherd was so good at the bad boy role that he won the Inside Soap Award for Best Bad Boy in 2007. The awards kept rolling in, and he won the British Soap Awards for Villain Of The Year in 2008 and Best Actor in 2018.

Jack Ryder – EastEnders - Age 39

He may not be as legendary as the former Australian cricketer with the same name, but Jack Ryder became pretty popular playing Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders from 1998 to 2002. However, it was after leaving the soap that the 39-year-old star really flourished.

Soon after leaving EastEnders, he participated in the reality contest Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, performing and winning as Justin Timberlake. He also had a few stage roles in Kenneth Branagh's The Play What I Wrote and Romeo and Juliet. He even wrote and directed a short film called Act of Memory, and in 2020 published his first book called Jack's Secret Summer.

Jacqueline Jossa – EastEnders - Age 28

Jacqueline Jossa is an EastEnders Alum famous for playing a character named Lauren Branning. She took over the role from Madeline Duggan, who played the character for four years. Jossa played the character from 2010 to 2018, with a brief break in between for maternity leave.

While on the show, she also starred in the spinoff internet show called Lauren's Diaries. After leaving, she entered and won 2019's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and was named Queen of the Jungle. She recently said that the only way she would return to EastEnders was if the whole Branning family was back.

James Mcavoy – Shameless - age 41

James McAvoy broke through in Hollywood in a massive way and is one of the most respected British actors in the scene. Most will know him either from his time as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men Franchise or as Kevin Wendell Crumb in Split and Glass.

McAvoy has done pretty well for a guy who had no interest in acting and only pursued it because he developed feeling for a co-star from his first movie role. He cut his teeth in an acclaimed British sitcom called Shameless. Now, he is set to star in a 2021 film called My Son.

Jenna Coleman – Emmerdale - Age 34

Jenna Coleman spent four years playing Jasmine Thompson in Emmerdale between 2005 and 2009. Despite her short time on the show, she got nominated for several awards like the Best Newcomer award at the British Soap Awards. After she ended her time on Emmerdale, she then auditioned for another iconic British show.

That show was Doctor Who, and she landed the part of Clara Oswald, playing the character for three seasons. She has since moved on from and played Queen Victoria in the critically acclaimed hit period drama series Victoria. In January 2021, she had a vital role in the mini-series The Serpent.

Jessie Wallace – EastEnders - Age 49

Jessie Wallace gained fame for playing Kat Slater, a party girl character in EastEnders. But as Wallace developed the role, it became more popular. Her popularity came as she explored the role of childhood indecent assault and its effect on adult intimacy and how said adult goes about getting it.

She had three stints on the show, and between those also appeared in shows like The Friday Night Project, Wild at Heart, and the reality show Strictly Come Dancing. She also took to the theater where she played the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and The Perfect Murder. She is currently back on EastEnders after returning in 2018.

Joanna Lumley - Absolutely Fabulous - age 74

Let's cut straight to the chase: Joanna Lumley gained worldwide fame for portraying the perpetually glamorous Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous. Not only was the show critically acclaimed and award-winning, but so was she, winning two BAFTAs for the role.

She came along way before that character, though, as she was also in The New Avengers and Sapphire & Steel before getting her titular role. After the series ended, she had roles in The Wolf of Wall Street and an Absolutely Fabulous movie. In 2021, she had a role in a series called Finding Alice and a film called The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Michelle Ryan – EastEnders – Age 36

Michelle Ryan is an English actress best known for her 5-years role in the legendary BBC soap opera EastEnders. She first made it to the show in 2000, when she was introduced as the young Zoe Slater. Her character's background story (a struggling adopted young woman) was even granted the "Best Storyline" award in the 2002 British Soap Awards.

In 2005, Ryan left the cast of EastEnders to focus on different projects. She starred on the short-lived American series Bionic Woman and made it to a couple of reputable British shows, including the iconic Doctor Who.

Bill Treacher – EastEnders - Age 90

During his time on television, Bill Treacher’s most notable role was Arthur Fowler from the EastEnders. He was the first to be cast on the soap opera and played the character from 1985 to 1996. Arthur Fowler experienced a nervous breakdown, got imprisoned twice, and found himself entangled in an affair before he ultimately got killed off.

Treacher had to withdraw from the BBC show in 1995 after being told the long filming hours were unhealthy. The now-retired 90-year-old revealed in 2015 that he has a degenerative disease called ataxia, which affects his balance and ability to walk.

Alison Bettles – Grange Hill - Age 52

The English TV star Alison Bettles may now be retired, but fans will always remember her as Fay Lucas in Grange Hill. After all, she was part of the BBC series from 1982 to 1987. Bettles also took part in the popular anti-drugs single Just Say No that reached No. 5 in the charts in 1986.

According to the Daily Mail, the now-married mother of four is a qualified beauty therapist and has her own freight business. She inspired two of her sons to enter the acting industry, and they’ve bagged roles in EastEnders and Doctor Who.

Thelma Barlow - Coronation Street - Age 91

It’s been over 20 years since we last saw Thelma Barlow as newsagent Mavis Wilton on Corrie. And fans might have to get used to her absence for good because she said that she has no plans on making a comeback to the cobbles at all.

In a 2020 interview, Barlow revealed that she’s actually been asked to reprise her character a couple of times already. She refused these offers saying that she wouldn’t know how to play Mavis anymore. Aside from a small speaking role in Florence Foster Jenkins in 2016, it seems like she’s set on enjoying a much-deserved retirement.

Shobna Gulati - Coronation Street - Age 54

Shobna Gulati has been a TV mainstay since the late ‘90s. And although she’s starred in her fair share of memorable programs, she’s still best known for her run as shop assistant Sunita Alahan. She stayed on the show for 12 years and saw her character deal with troubles like an arranged marriage.

Gulati left the cobbles in 2013. According to Entertainment Daily, she did so because the soap’s busy shooting schedule affected her love life. While she did end up dating after, she appears to be single as of 2021. Many things are keeping her busy, though, including a stint on Celebrity Best Home Cook.

Eileen Derbyshire - Coronation Street - Age 89

When Eileen Derbyshire took some time off Coronation Street in 2015, fans hoped to see her again someday. But aside from a cameo in 2019, she never made her anticipated return. A comeback seems out of the question more so in 2021 as news of her husband’s death did the rounds in the media.

Derbyshire and Thomas W. Holt met and wed each other in the ‘60s while just beginning her TV career. Their long marriage saw them become parents to sports journalist Oliver Holt and saw Derbyshire become the longest-serving woman on Corrie.

Gwyneth Powell – Grange Hill - Age 74

Headmistress Bridget McClusky, brought to life by Gwyneth Powell, was one of Grange Hill’s longest-standing characters, appearing on-screen from 1981 to 1991. Fun Fact: Powell trained as a teacher but never practiced in any classroom, for she entered showbiz instead.

The 74-year-old star once told the BBC that she aspired to modernize the character because she was just a 35-year-old when she got cast for the role. After departing from Grange Hill, Powell starred in hit shows like Heartbeat and Holby City. Her most up-to-date TV portrayal was in a 2014 Casualty episode.

Simone Hyams – Grange Hill - Age 49

Simone Hyams tasted fame after she bagged the role of Caroline “Calley” Donnington in Grange Hill. However, the character, known for her fascination with horoscopes and the occasional shoplifting, had nothing much in common with Hyams. She told the 1986 Grange Hill Annual that she only believed in her horoscope if it says she’s going to have a good day.

Hyams was on the BBC school drama from 1985 to 1991, but she was also on other projects like The Bill and Baywatch. After her stint in acting, she shifted careers to work as a corporate events manager for Virgin.

Lee MacDonald – Grange Hill - Age 52

Lee MacDonald’s most acclaimed role to date has got to be that of Grange Hill’s Zammo McGuire. With the moving storyline of the character’s battle with heroin addiction, he stayed on the BBC drama for six years until he exited in 1987.

After the show, MacDonald made cameo appearances on The Bill and a TV adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was always interested in boxing, so he also honed his skill to a higher degree. However, a car accident in the early ‘90s hindered his chances at pursuing the sport. In 2019, MacDonald was a guest star on the BBC’s EastEnders, playing bus driver Terry.

Sally Dynevor – Coronation Street - Age 57

Back in 1986, Sally Dynevor was cast to portray Sally on Coronation Street. Little did she know back then that she’d still be doing so today when she’s 57 years old. It turns out that Dynevor has been on over 3,200 episodes by now and continues to play in more.

Almost miraculously, we can hardly see any difference in her then and now photos. It appears that Dynevor has been prioritizing her well-being, especially after receiving her breast cancer diagnosis in 2009. Nevertheless, she’s overcome it by now. She had three children with her husband, Tim Dynevor, a scriptwriter.

Tina O'Brien – Coronation Street - Age 37

She was 16 when she first played on an episode of Coronation Street as Sarah. It’s safe to say that back then, she didn’t think she’d still be doing so in her late 30s. For years, Tina O’Brien was in a relationship with Ryan Thomas, her co-star, portraying Jason on the show. They even had a child together.

Now that they’ve broken up, O’Brien has gotten married to Adam Coffs in 2018. So far, she’s been on over 1,500 episodes of the soap opera and has even tried acting elsewhere, like in Waterloo Road in 2010. She’s one of those people who get prettier as time goes by!

Alison King – Coronation Street - Age 48

For the first time in 1985, Alison King appeared on TV on an episode of Shine on Harvey Moon. She only got her big break, however, once she started acting on Coronation Street in 2004. She has been portraying Carla Barlow ever since then and has been in over 1,500 episodes already.

In 2019 King announced her engagement to David Stuckey, but they have yet to get married. She’s 48 by now and still considered one of the prettiest members on the series’ cast. Before Coronation Street, she had acted on shows like Dream Team from 1998 until 2007.

John Altman – EastEnders - Age 69

John Altman made a name as one of the original cast members on EastEnders playing Nick Cotton. Despite his character not being regular, it was renowned for purporting the first murder in the series. However, Nick Cotton got killed off on the 30th-anniversary episode of the show.

Before EastEnders, Altman had a string of film roles, including The First Great Train Robbery, Birth of The Beatles, and Memoirs of a Survivor. He also dabbled in music, most notably becoming the singer for Heavy Metal Kids in 2010. He has a role in the 2021 video short called Looking for the Love of My Life.

Jorgie Porter – Hollyoaks - Age 33

Jorgie Porter is famous for playing Theresa McQueen in Hollyoaks. It was her first major acting role, and she started playing it in 2008. She also starred in several Hollyoaks spinoffs, including Hollyoaks Later and 2020's Hollyoaks Does Come Dine With Me.

She left the show in 2016 and landed a role as Miss Croft in the rebooted Are You Being Served?. She also participated in the show Celebs Go Dating. Her reality TV roles go back to her first stint on Hollyoaks, where she notably participated in Dancing On Ice and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. She returned to Hollyoaks in 2020 to reprise her role.

Jude Law – Families - Age 48

Heartthrob, male symbol, acclaimed actor, these are just some ways to describe Jude Law. But the actor who found fame for his role in the hit film The Talented Mr. Ripley earned his early chops in a two-year stint on the soap Families.

He went on to star in films like Enemy at the Gates, A.I., Artificial Intelligence, and two Sherlock Holmes movies. The two-time Oscar nominee was also named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. Law's upcoming projects include Sherlock Holmes 3 and Fantastic Beasts 3.

Bill Treacher – EastEnders - Age 90

Alison Bettles – Grange Hill - Age 52

Gwyneth Powell – Grange Hill - Age 74

Simone Hyams – Grange Hill - Age 49

Lee MacDonald – Grange Hill - Age 52

Julie Goodyear – Coronation Street - Age 78

Julie Goodyear is renowned for playing the beehive hairstyled, leopard print wearing Bet Lynch in Coronation Street. The look became iconic of the character and was even ripped off by Freddie Mercury in the music video for the song I Want To Break Free.

Goodyear first appeared in 1966 but later on became permanent n 1970, playing the role until 1995. She returned in 2002 but left, citing the strenuous shooting schedule for going. She still took roles in less demanding projects, such as reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Fit Club.

June Brown – EastEnders - Age 94

June Brown is an icon of British TV, thanks to her longstanding role as Dot Cotton in EastEnders. She played the role for 35 years and in that time won a ton of awards for her excellent performance, including three British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Award, and one TV Quick and TV Choice Award.

She was also awarded an MBE and even had a small role in Coronation Street. But EastEnders isn't the only thing she's starred in, for she also had roles in 1985's Oliver Twist and 1997's Bean. Brown, who featured in a 2020 documentary called Soho Is, retired from playing Dot Cotton's character in February 2020.

Keira Knightley - The Bill - age 35

Keira Knightley earned her initial acting chops with an acclaimed performance in the film Bend It Like Beckham. Actually, that's wrong; she gained it through the short-lived soap called The Bill. Bend It Like Beckham did put her on the map to stardom, though.

She has since become renowned for her work in period pieces, most notably in Romeo And Juliet, as Georgiana Cavendish in The Duchess, and the title role in Anna Karenina. She is also famous for playing Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Knightley recently finished work on a 2021 film called Silent Night.

Lacey Turner – EastEnders - age 32

Lacey Turner doesn't just turn up to work to do a job; she comes for excellence. That's why she has won over thirty awards for playing Stacey Slater in EastEnders. These include six British Soap awards and four National Television Awards.

Turner had an initial stint on the popular soap opera from 2004 to 2010. However, her character was so popular that she was eventually asked back despite leaving, returning in 2014, and being on the show ever since. In-between, she had roles in projects like Being Human, Frankenstein's Wedding, and Our Girl.

Linda Davidson – EastEnders - Age 56

Linda Davidson's career change was as extreme as her EastEnders character's makeup. She played the goth-punk character, Mary Smith, from the very first episode in 1985. She wasn't in it long, leaving in 1988, but some of her storylines were memorable and hard-hitting.

She left the soap after being offered a role in a play by actor and playwright Steven Berkoff. She also starred in movies like First of the Summer Wine, The House of Eliott, and The Bill. She eventually pursued her passion for writing, and quit acting in 1999. Davidson currently works for Discovery Communications.

Lucy Benjamin – EastEnders - Age 50

Lucy Benjamin is most famous for playing Lisa Fowler in EastEnders despite sporadically playing the character from 1998 to 2020. She was loved for bringing controversy as a marriage-wrecker and had a prominent run from her first episode until 2003.

In between stints on the show, she also featured on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. She also had a role in medical drama Casualty and returned as a permanent EastEnders cast member in 2019, but eventually decided to leave in 2020. She has a role in an upcoming 2021 film called Game of Two Halves.

Lucy Pargeter – Emmerdale - Age 44

Another day, another Dingle, but this one is special. You see, after years of not having any roles, Lucy Pargeter landed two soap opera roles in one go in 2002: Crossroads and Emmerdale. While her Crossroads road ended after the show got canceled, she still plays Chas Dingle today.

She isn't just part of the furniture either and eventually won a Best Actress award at the British Soap Awards for her stellar performance in 2019. Besides her work on Emmerdale, she participated in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

Maisie Smith – EastEnders - Age 19

Maisie Smith has been on EastEnders since she was six years old, playing Tiffany Butcher's character. However, she already had some screen experience after playing the younger version of Queen Elizabeth I in The Other Boleyn Girl. She made her first appearance on EastEnders in 2008 before stepping away to try new things in 2014.

Smith started a music career where she released a single called Good Thing in 2016. This included a music video posted on her YouTube channel. She eventually returned to EastEnders that same year for one episode, then permanently in 2018. Smith participated in Strictly Come Dancing, Series 18.

Malcolm Hebden – Coronation Street - Age 81

Malcolm Hebden is famous for playing Norris Cole, who caused a lot of controversy on the soap. He was on the show for three separate stints and originally appeared in 1994. Ironically, before playing Cole, he had another small role as the Spanish partner of the character Mavis Riley.

He spent 27 years on the show on and off and won the Best Onscreen Partnership at the British Soap Awards and the Funniest Character award at the Inside Soap Awards. He suffered a heart attack that put him out of commission for a few years and eventually led him to retire in 2021.

Margot Robbie – Neighbours - Age 30

Margot Robbie isn't British, but before she started tearing up Hollywood, she was a soap opera star in the Australian show Neighbours. She had faith in her abilities, and in moving to the United States, she impressed everyone in the series Pan Am before having her breakthrough role in the Wolf Of Wall Street film.

Today, we know her from her roles as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey and her Oscar-nominated performance in the biopic I, Tonya. Robbie earned another Oscar nomination for her part in the film Bombshell and will return as Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad, due out in 2021.

Martin Kemp – EastEnders - Age 59

Martin Kemp is highly renowned for two major reason reasons. He is the bassist for the internationally recognized '80s new wave band Spandau Ballet, who had the hit song named Gold. However, he also became one of the most recognized faces on British TV after he landed Steve Owen's character in EastEnders.

By the time he left, Kemp was likely more recognized for being on the soap than in the band. He won five British Soap Awards and three TV Quick Awards for the role. In 2021, Martin and his son Roman will host a show called Martin & Roman's Weekend Best.

Martine McCutcheon – Eastenders - Age 44

Martine McCutcheon may have become a hitmaking singer and songwriter, but she cut her teeth on the silver screen. She gained a level of stardom as a teenager in the children's drama series Bluebirds. She followed that up with an even bigger role in EastEnders playing Tiffany Mitchell.

Although EastEnders made her a household name in Britain, her role in 2003's Love Actually gave her international recognition. In music, she released her debut album called You Me & Us in 1999, which gave her a UK number one hit with the song Perfect Moment. McCutcheon recently got featured in The Masked Singer UK.

Max Brown – Hollyoaks - Age 40

Max Brown has a pretty extensive list of appearances both in Britain and in the States. But like all good modern male soap actors, he started by playing the heartthrob role. His first acting gig was in that same guise as Danny Hartston in Grange Hill.

He would go on to have many roles in British shows like Crossroads, Hollyoaks, Casualty, and The Tudors, among others. He also made an impact in America with an 18-episode run in The CW's Beauty and the Beast. He has a TV movie called Valley of Love up for release in 2021.

Michelle Collins – EastEnders - Age 59

Michelle Collins is a pretty impressive actress. So impressive, in fact, that she landed roles in both EastEnders and Coronation Street, rival soap operas. It was in two separate stints as she first played Cindy Beale in Eastenders for ten years before playing Stella Price in Coronation Street.

Apart from the two shows, she also had roles in films like Real Women, Two Thousand Acres of Sky, Sunburn and participated in the reality show Bear Grylls: Mission Survive. Collins now has an upcoming role in a 2021 Horror film called My House.

Michelle Keegan - Coronation Street - Age 33

Michelle Keegan beat out 900 other auditioners for her role as Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street. She did the casting team proud by getting the character voted one of the top ten Coronation Street characters in history. This is despite only being on the show for six years.

Although her character got killed off she continues to shine, playing the lead role in the show Our Girl, which she starred in from 2016 to 2020. Keegan has also been playing the lead in a series called Brassic, wherein she has been playing the main character, Erin Croft, since 2019 until now.

Nathalie Emmanuel – Hollyoaks - age 32

You might recognize Nathalie Emmanuel from somewhere. Maybe it's from her theater days where she had a role in the West End Musical of The Lion King in the '90s. It could also be from her time in Hollyoaks playing Sasha Valentine from 2006 to 2010.

In terms of movies, Emmanuel was in Furious 7 as hacker Ramsey and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials as Harriet. However, her most famous role has got to be what was dubbed the greatest TV show in history, Game Of Thrones, as Missandei. Wherever you've seen her, you'll see her next in 2021 films like F9 and Army of the Dead: The Prequel.

Nick Berry – EastEnders - Age 57

He's maintaining a low profile now, but Nick Berry was a big deal in the British TV and music scene of the '80s and '90s. He got a big acting break playing Simon Wicks in EastEnders. Although he wasn't in the first episode, he joined the show in its first year.

Berry played the character for five years, but besides acting, he also released a music single called Every Loser Wins. During his time on EastEnders, the song went up to number one on the UK Charts. He retired from acting in 2012 and ran his own production company until he resigned in 2019.

Pam St Clement – EastEnders - Age 78

In a "who you gonna call" moment, the showrunners on Eastenders decided that they needed to add some toughness to the show's female cast. Well, who were they going to call, veteran actress Pam St Clement of course? Whether she is as hard as the character she plays remains to be known.

St Clement brought what the show needed and played the character of Pat Evans for 25 years. Not bad for someone who started on a three-episode trial run, although the character got killed off in 2012. Her last acting role was in Casualty in 2017, and she last appeared on-screen on the morning show This Morning in 2020.

Patsy Palmer – EastEnders - Age 48

For Patsy Palmer, acting is just one of the things that bring her joy. It brought her a Soap Award for Best Actress, though, when she played the loud-mouthed Bianca Jackson on EastEnders. Despite that success, she doesn't just get fulfillment from acting and has also been a DJ since 2012.

Her DJing has taken her around the world, and she has had regular gigs in America. She also started a company with her friend Charlotte Cutler, selling beauty and self-tanning products. In March 2021, she cut off a video interview on Good Morning Britain after taking offense to their strapline dubbing her "Addict to Wellness Guru."

Peter Dean – Coronation Street - Age 81

As far as Peter Dean is concerned, he can do and say whatever he wants. He's even moved from Coronation Street to EastEnders. In the former, he played Jeff Bateman, and in the latter, Pete Beale, his most notable role of the two. However, after he said what he wanted about his colleagues in an interview, he got fired from EastEnders.

Since that interview with The Sun, work has been few and far between, although he also had roles in films like The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. In 2020, Dean was on a podcast called The Bill Podcast.

Ricky Whittle – Hollyoaks - Age 39

English actor Ricky Whittle made his initial splash as a model for sportswear brand Reebok. He then gained even more popularity when he starred as Calvin Valentine in Hollyoaks. This role came as his second acting gig after he debuted in the football show Dream Team.

Whittle also participated in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, coming second, before hopping over the pond to America. After a handful of Single Ladies and NCIS episodes, he landed his big American gig playing Lincoln in the popular series The 100. He currently has a role in another popular series American Gods.

Robert Kazinsky – EastEnders - age 37

Robert Kazinsky built his popularity steadily through several roles over a period of time. Some of his memorable early works include playing Casper Rose in Dream Team and Sean Slater in EastEnders, where he spent two years from 2006 to 2008.

He moved to America, where he landed notable roles in films like Pacific Rim and TV shows like True Blood. In later work, he landed the character of the orc Orgrim Doomhammer in Warcraft, and in 2019 he played biker The Don in Captain Marvel. He is currently filming an upcoming project called Big America.

Russell Brand - The Bill - Age 45

Russel Brand has built himself quite the profile on the world stage. He is lamented by many as the man who broke Katy Perry's heart, but of course, he isn't all bad guy. He is famous as a pretty great comedian, actor, and political activist too.

Brand entered show business as a teenager in kids' programs like Mud and police procedural drama The Bill. He's also a pretty accomplished stand-up comedian and has performed for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Brand recently finished work on two 2022 projects, including Death On The Nile and the animated Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Ryan Thomas – Coronation Street - Age 36

Ryan Thomas gained notable popularity for playing Jason Grimshaw, a popular ladies' man in Coronation Street. He became a male symbol thanks to the show, with interesting storylines involving many female characters.

But for most of his 16 years on the series, his storylines were thin, which is likely why he left the soap, stating that he was chasing a different experience. He used his male status to play prince charming in a Cinderella pantomime and even entered and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. Thomas quit acting in 2021, saying he didn't feel for it anymore.

Sam Strike – EastEnders - Age 27

With a name like Sam Strike, you'd expect this English actor to be more like an English soldier or superhero. But instead, he's the guy who played Johnny Carter in the British soap opera EastEnders. He also performed in a children's show called M.I. High.

He left EastEnders in 2014 and moved to America to pursue his career there. He landed a role as the iconic Leatherface in the eponymous prelude to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise and starred in another film called Silent Witness. Strike last starred in the TV pilot for the Stephen King-based series The Dark Tower.

Sarah Lancashire - Coronation Street - Age 56

Sarah Lancashire isn't just your average run-of-the-mill soap actress. She is a talented one capable of playing multiple characters, noted for her five-year role in Coronations Street as Raquel Watts. She was so popular that the demand for her talent spiked when she left the soap opera.

She then gained fame in other programs such as Where the Heart Is, Clocking Off, and Seeing Red. She also became the UK's highest-paid television actress in 2000 by signing a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network. Lancashire is set to star in a 2021 film called Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Sean Maguire – EastEnders - Age 44

Sean Maguire is one of those happy-go-lucky people you don't mind having around your kids. This is why he was so popular on the kids' drama series Grange Hill. However, he eventually outgrew that role and spent a short while on EastEnders, playing Aidan Brosnan.

Maguire also branched out into music with three albums and a notable appearance alongside the Backstreet Boys and others on a The Gift of Christmas record. He eventually retired from music and continued his acting career, moving to America and starring in the sitcom Off Centre and the film Meet The Spartans. Recently, Maguire has starred in The 100 as Russell Lightbourne.

Shirley Cheriton – EastEnders - Age 65

Shirley Cheriton is known for her short but effective stint on EastEnders. She made her debut as Debbie Wilkins just a few episodes after the first airing in 1985. She played a stuck-up working-class character who is always looking for a means of upward mobility.

By 1987, she had left the soap and pursued other acting gigs, including a role in Angels, which came from EastEnders creator Julia Smith. She also had roles in a show called M.I.T: Murder Investigation Team. Some of her pre-EastEnders work includes the sitcom Are You Being Served? and its spinoff Grace & Favour.

Susan Tully – EastEnders - Age 53

She went from being a rebellious teen named Suzanne Ross in Grange Hill to a tough but loving single mom in the soap EastEnders. Clearly, Susan Tully has proven herself to be a versatile actress. She is one of EastEnders' original cast, making her debut in 1985 and spending ten years on it.

After leaving EastEnders in 1995, she tried her hand at directing, which included doing episodes of EastEnders and The Story of Tracy Beaker, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and 2020's Strike: Lethal White, which is also the last project she directed.

Sean Wilson – Coronation Street – Age 56

Some people make rather dramatic turns in their lives. Sean Wilson was an English actor who played Martin Platt in "Coronation Street." He left the show over disagreements with the writers over the character's direction (he dated an underage girl). He then decided to become a chef!

He worked at a few Michelin-starred restaurants, which is the gold standard in the cooking world. It gave him the experience he needed to become a cheesemaker, and then he had the bright idea to open his own cheese business called Saddleworth Cheese Company. In 2021, he remains a happy cheesemaker!

Emmett J. Scanlan – Hollyoaks – Age 42

Sometimes, an actor lands a part on a show where they are given more than they expected. Emmett Scanlan, who is best known for playing Brendon Brady on "Hollyoaks" is one such person. He also met Claire Cooper in 1995 on the set, which would prove to be the romance of his life.

They were together for five years before they got married. Scanlon became a father for the second time at 41 when Cooper gave birth to their son, who they named Ocean, in 2020. In 2021, he shared a rare selfie of him and his daughter from another relationship.

Samia Longchambon – Coronation Street – Age 39

Samia Maxine Longchambon is Autumn ready. The "Coronation Street" stalwart dyed her hair from blond to brunette in 2021 for the season. She has played Maria Connor in the soap opera hosted by ITV. She met her husband, Sylvain Longchambon, as a competitor in "Dancing On Ice."

In 2021, Longchambon revealed to The Mirror she would happily play the character for another 20 years. She enjoys the role, especially as she has been at the centre of some of its biggest storylines, and the job also gives her enough time to study therapy courses.

Denise Black – Coronation Street – Age 63

Denise Black is an English actress born in Portsmouth and studied psychology at London University. She held a few jobs in the field and then, after graduating, traveled. When she came back, it seems she returned to herself. After that, she decided she wanted to be an actress.

She is best known for her role as a hairdresser named Denise Osbourne in "Coronation Street", which she played from '92 to '96. In 2013, she got the role of Joanie Wright in another famous soapie, "Emmerdale". In 2021, you can catch her on "unforgotten."