Soap stars who broke US and bagged Hollywood jobs – from EastEnders hunk to Hollyoaks starlet who even landed an Oscar
SOAP actors are often looked down on by snobby television viewers – but there are so many big names who started out on them.
Having began on Coronation Street, Michelle Keegan is the latest former soap star tipped to break America, thanks to Netflix thriller Fool Me Once.
The hit show, based on Harlan Coben’s novel, was released on New Year’s Day, and was the most watched title of last week for the streaming service.
It debuted with 37 million viewers and reached the top ten in 91 countries, making a global star out of Michelle, who plays the show’s leading lady, Maya Stern.
It’s a big win for the 36-year-old Northern lass, who played Tina McIntyre on Corrie from 2008 to 2014.
Despite her being a huge name in the UK, having starred in many TV shows, including Brassic and Our Girl, it’s her first international success.
When it comes to Michelle’s bank balance, she’s also doing very well, with a net worth of £3million.
But she’s not the only former soap star to have broken America… as we reveal the most successful actors from Hollyoaks to EastEnders.
Rob Kazinsky
Rob Kazinsky is one of the most successful people to come out of EastEnders – but he’s never forgotten his roots.
Since playing Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
He was also in the sixth series of True Blood.
But he’s still found time to revisit Albert Square, having popped back in 2019 and 2021, as well as via video call in 2022.
Rachel Shenton
She played wannabe WAG Mitzeee (yes, with three Es) Minniver on Hollyoaks from 2010 to 2013.
And five years later, in 2018, Rachel Shenton won an Oscar for short film The Silent Child, which she wrote, produced and starred in.
It tells the story of a profoundly deaf six-year-old girl, who is taught how to communicate through British sign language by her social worker.
And it was based on Rachel’s own experiences, as the child of a parent who became deaf.
Anna Friel
Anna Friel first found fame on Brookside 30 years ago – and was responsible for the first ever pre-watershed lesbian kiss in TV history.
But she’s continued to have a glittering career since leaving the now-defunct soap in 1995.
Here in the UK, she’s most well known for playing Marcella in the ITV drama.
But she’s also had huge success in the States, earning a Golden Globe nomination in 2008 for her leading role in ABC series Pushing Daisies and starring in Limitless, opposite Bradley Cooper.
Nathalie Emmanuel
At just 17 years old, Nathalie Emmanuel joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Sasha Valentine, in 2006.
In her four years on the Channel 4 soap, she had some very hard-hitting storylines, including, most notably, a heroin addiction.
Now, Nathalie is more famous for playing Missandei in Game of Thrones – a character who joined in the third series and successfully made it out alive at the end.
She has also starred as Ramsey in the last four Fast and Furious films, and is in two upcoming Hollywood films, Arthur the King and Megalopolis.
Ben Hardy
EastEnders’ Peter Beale has been played by many different actors over the years; currently Thomas Law.
But it’s Ben Hardy who’s had the most success since leaving Albert Square.
He played Ian Beale’s son from 2013 to 2015, and went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Emmett J Scanlan
Brendan Brady was one of the most memorable Hollyoaks characters of all time, with Emmett J Scanlan playing the troubled villain incredibly.
After being killed off in very memorable fashion in 2013, after his character took the fall for his sister Cheryl, Emmett’s career has gone from strength to strength.
He’s been in Hollywood blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and starred in Peaky Blinders, opposite Cillian Murphy.
And Emmett also happens to be in Fool Me Once with Michelle Keegan.
Michelle Ryan
Michelle Ryan was part of the most iconic TV moments of the Noughties, when her EastEnders character Zoe Slater shouted at her mum – who she thought was her sister – Kat Slater: “You ain’t my mother!”
However, she left the BBC soap after five years, in 2005, leaving fans devastated.
And it wasn’t long until she was back on our screens – and in the States too, as she starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
Later this year, Michelle will star in the film Dragged Up Dirty.
Mimi Keene
Cindy Beale made a shock return from the dead in EastEnders last year, but her mischievous daughter Cindy is still unaware her mum is alive, as she’s away travelling.
And it’s unlikely Cindy Jr. will return any time soon, as the actress who played her, Mimi Keene, has become a huge star.
After leaving EastEnders in 2015, Mimi went on to star in movies Close and Tolkein.
But she’s become more well-known for her role of Ruby Matthews in Netflix hit Sex Education.
Rakhee Thakrar
Another former EastEnders star who was also in Sex Education is Rakhee Thakrar.
Rakhee played Shabnam Masood in the BBC soap from 2014 to 2016 – and her character was even recently mentioned with the arrival of her daughter Jade Masood.
She then played teacher Emily Sands in Sex Education.
More recently, Rakhee can be seen singing and dancing alongside Timothee Chalamet in Hollywood blockbuster Wonka.
Himesh Patel
There must have been something in the Masood family, as Himesh Patel – who played Rakhee’s on-screen brother Tamwar – has also made it in Hollywood.
After joining EastEnders aged just 16, Himesh stayed at the soap for nine years, with geeky Tamwar becoming a fan favourite.
But since leaving in 2016, he’s been in some huge films, including Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Netflix film Don’t Look Up! opposite Leonardo Dicaprio.
Himesh was even nominated for an Emmy, in 2021, for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, for his role in Station Eleven.
More recently, he can be seen in Dan Levy’s Netflix film Good Grief.
Tilly Keeper
Tilly Keeper played Phil Mitchell’s daughter Louise Mitchell, on EastEnders, from 2016 to 2020.
She had many big storylines, including dealing with her dad’s alcoholism and suffering permanent burns after a fire.
After leaving the soap, Tilly went on to star in R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned opposite Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds.
But her biggest role to date was in the most recent series of Netflix hit You, playing Lady Phoebe Borehall-Blaxworth.
Ricky Whittle
Playing her on-screen brother Calvin Valentine, Ricky Whittle joined Hollyoaks with Nathalie Emmanuel and left around the same time as her too, also revealing he wanted to break the States.
He then moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2011, and quickly seemed to get work.
From 2014 to 2016, he starred in sci-fi drama The 100 and US soap Mistresses.
Ricky then got the lead role in fantasy drama American Gods in 2017, which ran until 2021.
Sam Strike
Sam Strike joined EastEnders with the rest of the Carter family, as the youngest son Johnny, in 2013.
He had a very memorable moment when his character came out to his dad Mick, played by Danny Dyer – but he was only on the show for a year.
Since then, he’s starred in some huge Hollywood films, including Texas Chainsaw Massacre film Leatherface.
More recently, he can be seen in The Boys in the Boat, which was produced and directed by George Clooney.
Barry Sloane
Barry Sloane is yet another Hollyoaks alumni who managed to break the USA.
He played evil Niall Rafferty from 2007 to 2008 – Myra McQueen’s secret son who wanted revenge after she’d abandoned him at birth.
And, ironically, after leaving Chester, he starred in US drama Revenge as Aiden Mathis from 2012 to 2014.
Last year, he appeared in US drama The Company You Keep, alongside Milo Ventimiglia.