The world of UK soaps, from Coronation Street to EastEnders, often portrays characters navigating the ups and downs of everyday life. Characters like Danny Dyer’s Mick Carter, a pub landlord, and iconic Phil Mitchell, who works in a car repair shop, are relatable for fans across the country.
However, it can be quite a surprise when actors leave their roles to take on similar jobs in real life.
One such example is Katie Jarvis, known for her role as Hayley Slater in EastEnders between 2018 and 2019. After just two years on the soap, a relatively short stint compared to some of the show’s stalwarts, Katie took up a job as a security guard at B&M to support her family between acting gigs, according to the Mirror.
Speaking to The Daily Star, she said: “I’ve taken a step back from acting. I’ve got a job and I’m looking after my kids.”
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She described feeling “job-shamed” for taking on regular work after her stint on the popular soap. In an interview with Grazia, the Dagenham native explained: “It’s the nature of being an actor; gigs come and go, and after my contract with EastEnders ended in February, I found a new job as soon as I could.”
Hayley’s abrupt exit from Albert Square in 2019 left viewers puzzled, as her dramatic storyline with Kat and Alfie came to an unexpected halt. An insider revealed to The Sun: “A lot of people have been wondering where Hayley is after she left so suddenly but the mystery has been solved, she’s in Romford working at B&M.”
“There was so much speculation about her departure, but there was no reason to keep the character in Albert Square once the storyline ended and Alfie had gone.”
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