One now has a successful nail salon, while another runs a boutique business on a farm
Many former soap actors, some who once starred in Coronation Street, Eastenders, Hollyoaks, or Emmerdale, have chosen to step out of the public eye for the bliss of a quieter life or to support their families in a different way. From embarking on a career as a firefighter to opening a nail salon, their careers are now far cry from what they were doing on TV.
Here we take a look at some of the famous faces who swapped acting for a more “ordinary” job – or who took a temporary break before returning to Soapland.
Sean Wilson – Coronation Street
Former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson played Martin Platt for two decades in the soap before leaving to pursue cheesemaking. He set up the Saddleworth Cheese Company in 2009, whose products are stocked in Asda, and now makes an award-winning blue called Smelly Ha’peth.
Sean returned to school in Nantwich, Cheshire, where he learnt his trade as a lecturer in a bid to pass on his cheese expertise. He has won a gold medal at the British Cheese Awards and was on the judging panel at the International Cheese Awards and The Global Cheese Awards.
Coronation Street’s Sean Wilson who played Martin Platt(Image: (Image: ITV))
In 2017 he landed a lucrative deal with Asda to supply supply his award-winning product to nearly 200 branches. At the time he said: “My products are going nationwide. We supply 180 stores with delicatessens, so we’re very honoured.
“I walk down the street and most people acknowledge I’m one of them, which is great when you’re selling something.” Sean made a brief return to Corrie in 2019, when Martin came to Weatherfield to help son David.
In July, it was revealed by ITV that Wilson would return as Martin Platt as part of the exit storyline of long-running star Helen Worth, who plays his former wife Gail. However the brakes were mysteriously put on his return due to what ITV said were “personal reasons”.
Gemma Merna – Hollyoaks
Former Hollyoaks star Gemma Merna played glamorous McQueen sister Carmel from 2006 until 2014. She won Best Comedy Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2007 and was nominated for Best Female Soap Actress at the 2007 NTAs.
After leaving the Channel 4 soap, Gemma decided to step out of the spotlight and fulfil a long-term dream of teaching yoga. She quit acting and now works as a yoga instructor and personal trainer.
Actress Gemma Merna from Hollyoaks during her Yoga Class at Liverpool Yoga Studio to raise funds for Sports Relief.
In August 2016 she told the MEN: “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.
“I did a stage project last year and it helped to do yoga backstage. Yoga gets you very, very toned but in a different way to the gym. My body is in better shape than it has ever been and it’s better because I do yoga. And I feel a lot better.”
And it seems like her yoga career is going from strength to strength as in the past week she shared her gratitude to all her members. On Instagram she wrote: “Last movement and meditation of the year. Thank you, thank you, thank you to every community member, everyone who has taken part in my programmes or joined us at our retreats. I am so grateful for each and every one of you. Enjoy your Christmas break. Keep filling up your cup.”
Adam Thomas – Emmerdale
Adam Thomas spent nine years playing Adam Barton in the Dales before leaving in 2018. He then took on three days a week of work at a property management company owned by a businessman friend.
He told the Mirror in 2018: “I’ve made a fortune. I’m in between jobs. I was just at home, waiting for a phone call to do an audition – I needed something to tick me over.”
The actor, who has two children with wife Caroline added: “I’ve got a family to support at the end of the day, so I needed some sort of income. It’s great for my own sanity to get out there and start working.”
Adam went on to become a property executive for Kamani Property, before returning to our screens in a reprise of his former role on Waterloo Road and, more recently, Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
Adam Thomas has been supported by fans after giving an update on his health battle (Image: Adam Thomas Instagram)
However over the past year the former actor has been very open and honest about his health battle. The dad was told he had rheumatoid arthritis but updated fans in January on Loose Women to say that he has got Psoriatic arthritis. My arthritis journey: “Hey, I know some of you have been messaging me regarding my journey with arthritis, so I thought I’d give you a quick update as to where am at. So a couple of weeks back I started my new medication Sulfasalazine and whilst I was on it, it just Got me thinking, am I really going to be on medication for the rest of my life? !! There has to be a better way…
“Can I beat this without medication?…. so that’s what I’m going to do!! Well at least try too! I’ve decided to put my meds on hold for a while, as I explore trying to fight my auto immune disease the natural way! I’m not too sure if this will work, but I have to give it ago! I’ve been doing a lot of research into this (saw a few things on YouTube) and I know this disease has a lot to do with my diet or so am told…
“So that’s where I’m going to start! I’ve got to at least give it ago…And if all else fails then I will turn back to my meds,but for now this Is the route I’m going to take. This is my journey and I wouldn’t advise anyone to do the same but,I just have to give this a go, at least that way I left no stone unturned … I promise to keep you guys updated along the way. Has anyone done the same? Or thought about it? And have you beat it without medication?”
Tony Discipline – EastEnders
Former EastEnders actor Tony Discipline quit acting to take a very different career path. Tony, who played Alfie Moon’s cousin Tyler Moon from 2011 until 2013, left the showbiz world behind to become a firefighter.
The ex-Eastender unveiled the move on Instagram by sharing a snap in his London Fire Brigade uniform back in 2021. The former actor, who previously dated Jacqueline Jossa, posed in front of a fire engine wearing his LFB red t-shirt and khaki trousers held up with braces for his announcement.
Tony Discipline in his firefighter uniform(Image: tonydiscipline/Instagram)
The star had previously hinted at his new job earlier that year, when he posed in his uniform , but fans at the time wrongly assumed he was dressed for a new acting role. Fans flooded to the comments section to congratulate Tony on his new choice in career.
Fellow former EastEnders star James Forde, who became a builder after leaving the show, commenting: “Fair play geeza good on ya! We’ve both gone back down to reality!” [sic]
In May 2024 it was revealed how 11 years on from his exit, Tony would be returning to screens and would be appearing in Doctors as David Marsden, who is looking for his wife Luella. However Tony will soon again be out of a soap role job as 2024 marks the final year for Doctors, as the show has been axed by the BBC.
Jimi Mistry – Coronation Street
Jimi Mistry played Leanne Battersby’s fiancé Kal Nazir in Corrie from 2013 to 2015 – when his character was caught up in the fire drama at Victoria Court flats. After waving Leanne to safety, a gas canister next to him exploded in the blaze – which was started by Tracy Barlow.
Eastenders was where Jimi first rose to fame but he had big film roles in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, 2012 alongside Danny Glover and Blood Diamond opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and East is East. So it may have come as a surprise to some when he gave it all up to live off-grid in Devon.
Flavia Cacace and Jimi Mistry
Jimi had appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and was partnered with Flavia Cacace. The two quickly hit it off and got married in 2013. 10 years on, you’ll find Jimi, 51, in Devon with Flavia and the couple now run the boutique business, Our Life At The Barn.
According to the company’s website, Jimi and Flavia took the leap to follow their “dream” and think about moving to Devon and live on a smallholding in 2020, while the nation was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“And take a chance we did, in the spring of 2020 during the first national lockdown when the country had ground to a halt we saw it as the perfect opportunity to try something new and make that dream move,” the website reads. “Once we had made that decision everything seemed to fall into place.”
As part of their business, the husband-wife duo rent out luxury holiday cottages from their farm in Devon. With Flavia’s background in dance, the pair also offer a selection of dance breaks in the area too, which includes a private dance lesson with the former Strictly pro.
But it doesn’t stop there. Since growing their business, the pair have been able to expand on their countryside dream and in 2023 they welcomed lambs to their smallholding. Jimi and Flavia even have chickens and Ouessant sheep too. And away from the holiday cottage aspect, Jimi’s career change has also seen him launch the micro-bakery, Barn Bakes. With over 7,000 followers on Instagram, the micro-bakery sells a whole host of mouthwatering baked goods from handmade breads, cakes and pastries.
Jeremy Edwards – Hollyoaks
Jeremy played Kurt Benson in Hollyoaks from 1995 to 1999, and then went on to play Danny Shaughnessy in Holby City. He also had stints on Doctors and was in one episode of Emmerdale. He also had appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing On Ice and appeared in a Corrie spin-off.
But when job offers failed to come in he insisted he was “happy to graft” after becoming a labourer to make ends meet. In 2011 he was pictured throwing dirt into a skip for a friend’s gardening business.
Jeremy Edwards on Holby City
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.”
And Jeremy revealed he has found a big plus to labouring adding: “I’m gaining muscles.” Jeremy was back on our screens in 2019 to sing in the Celebrity X Factor with former Strictly star Brendan Cole. He later returned to Hollyoaks as motorbike-riding Kurt for a spell in 2020.
Kevin Kennedy – Coronation Street
Kevin Kennedy played the lovable Curly Watts for 20 years on Corrie. After leaving the cobbles in 2003, Kevin launched an addiction recovery charity to help others with addictive and mental health disorders after being on his own journey of recovery from alcohol addiction for 22 years.
Kevin Kennedy (Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
He set up the Kennedy Street Foundation to help hundreds of people across the country on their own road to recovery. They have a helpline manned by trained coaches all in active recovery who offer free virtual recovery coaching support, signposting and virtual workshops.
Kevin told the MEN in 2020: “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. 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.” In 2024 Kevin Kennedy turned his hand to panto as His Royal Highness, King Curlington in Cinderella.
Georgia May Foote – Coronation Street
Georgia May Foote who played Katy Armstrong in the soap is now working as a nail technician after deciding to step away from the spotlight.
Georgia May Foote(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
The 33-year-old decided to quit the cobbles in 2015 before she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. The actress launched GMF Nails after qualifying as a nail technician in 2021 and has even opened her own salon in Manchester. The salon’s Instagram page reveals the soap star offers services including 1-1 lessons, builder gel, gel polish and a variety of nail art. In November the former soap star posted an advertisement for a brow and lash technician to come and work with her in her Middleton, Manchester salon.
Georgia, who married her boyfriend Kris Evans in 2023, also advertised last year for ‘1-1 lessons’ with herself. Her post read: “I will now be offering 1-1 lessons with myself! These lessons are for qualified nail techs who are looking to enhance and perfect their skills. Each tutorial will be fully tailored to each individual and what they wish to focus on. We can concentrate on prep and BIAB applications or nail art. Or both! The choice is yours! Each lesson comes with a goody bag worth over £50 for you to leave with Dm to book in! Any questions please ask.”
