Published 10th May 2018 Last updated 21st Jan 2021
We've rounded up 14 soap stars who have attempted to make it big in America! While some have succeeded, others haven't been so successful!
Over the years we've seen many soap stars attempt to try other things' and make it big in America, but how many actually do? As you probably know when soap actors get typecast as a particular character, it can be hard for them to break away from it. Many famous faces from EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have attempted to crack Hollywood but, while some have soared, others have fallen.
So, we've decided to round up the soap stars who have failed at making it in America and of course, the ones who have made it pretty big out in stateside.
From EastEnders stars Ben Hardy and Patsy Palmer to Hollyoaks** turned** Game of Thrones actresses Nathalie Emmanuel and Roxanne McKee; these are the soap stars turned Hollywood actors...
Adele Silva
Adele left the role of Kelly Windsor in Emmerdale in 2007 in an attempt to crack America.
But, instead of setting Hollywood alight, in 2010 she was pictured working in a Ted Baker store in LA.
She returned to Emmerdale as Kelly in 2011.
Soap stars who tried to crack America
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Emmett J Scanlan
He played the infamous villain on Hollyoaks but Brendan Brady soon turned into the good guy following his relationship with Ste Hayes.
However in 2013 he left the Channel 4 show and went on to appear in Marvel's movie Guardian's of the Galaxy as the head riot guard.
Adele Silva
Adele left the role of Kelly Windsor in Emmerdale in 2007 in an attempt to crack America.
But, instead of setting Hollywood alight, in 2010 she was pictured working in a Ted Baker store in LA.
She returned to Emmerdale as Kelly in 2011.
Nikki Sanderson
Everyone knows Nikki as mouthy hairdresser Candice from Coronation Street. But, before she joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Maxine in 2012, Nikki tried her hand at success across the pond – to a lukewarm reception.
She managed to land a role in film Boogeyman 3, but sadly for Nikki it went straight to DVD.
Nathalie Emmanuel
She shot to fame in this country as Sasha Valentine on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, but since her exit in 2010 she's managed to find fame stateside.
As well as an appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise, Nathalie landed a role in Game of Thrones as interpreter Missandei. She also features in the second film in the Maze Runner trilogy, The Scorch Trials.
Ricky Whittle
Another Valentine sibling to swap Hollyoaks for Hollywood, Ricky played Calvin from 2006 until 2011, when he was shot dead on his wedding day.
He has since starred in The CW Network series The 100, playing Lincoln, and American God where he has taken on the role of Shadow Moon.
Ben Hardy
This is one actor who has well and truly swapped Walford for Hollywood.
After his shock departure from EastEnders, in which he played Peter Beale aka Ian Beale's son, Ben landed a role in X-Men: Apocalypse – an actual main, speaking part!
Sam Strike
Another EastEnders alumni, Sam quit his role as Johnny Carter in 2014 and went on to star in British drama film Bonded By Blood 2.
He later made his Hollywood debut in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel Leatherface and has since played a serial rapist in the Netflix show Mindhunter.
Rachel Shenton
From 2010 to 2013 Rachel Shenton starred in Hollyoaks as Mitzeee Minniver.
The feisty character left the show and moved to America upon discovering she's five months pregnant with Riley Costello's baby.
After leaving the Oaks, Rachel went on to star in Switched at Birth and White Gold. However, it was in 2018 when she won an Oscar for her short movie The Silent Child, in which she wrote and starred in.
Robert Kazinsky
Rob played EastEnders favourite Sean Slater from 2006 until 2009, but got his big American break when he was cast in the hit vampire series True Blood, playing Macklyn Warlow.
He then appeared in Pacific Rim and Warcraft.
Patsy Palmer
We loved Patsy as Bianca in EastEnders, but she left the soap in 2014 to pursue her American dream.
While she's yet to be cast in any major roles, Patsy did manage to land a job in a Best Buy advert. Well everyone's got to start somewhere, haven't they?
Despite being an actress turned DJ, it's Patsy's children that have made it big in the US!
Lacey Turner
She's well known for playing Stacey Slater in EastEnders but in 2010 Lacey bowed out of the show after her onscreen character fled the country after killing Archie Mitchell.
Ahh throwback.
Following her departure from the show, Lacey played the part of a witch in ITV2's show Switch but it wasn't long before she reprised her role as Stacey.
In 2014 she headed back onto the square and finally confessed to the police that she killed Archie.
Michelle Keegan
Coronation Street fans will remember where Michelle Keegan first started on TV and it was on the Cobbles.
The actress played Tina McIntyre and during her time on the show she hid her abortion from David Platt, she tried to keep Gary and Izzy's baby after she was their surrogate and she was left devastated after her dad faked his own death but ended up actually dying.
It's safe to say that she went out with a bang, after all Rob Donovan pushed her off a balcony.
After leaving the ITV show, Michelle went on Plebs, Tina and Bobby and joined BBC's Our Girl as Corporal Georgie Lane.
Martine McCutcheon
She's well known for playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders but after Frank Butcher ran her over outside the Queen Vic she died.
Fast forward a few years and Martine McCutcheon played Natalie in Love Actually.
That movie that everyone goes crazy about around Christmas time.
She's also appeared in Agatha Christie's Marple, Midsomer Murders and as a panelist on Loose Women.
Roxanne McKee
Roxanne first graced our screen as Louise Summer's in Hollyoaks.
After leaving the Channel 4 show, Roxanne went on appear in EastEnders: E20, Vendetta and Game of Thrones. In the popular HBO programme, she played Doreah; you know the woman who betrayed Daenerys with Xaro and was left to die in the vault with him.
How charming?
Emmett J Scanlan
He played the infamous villain on Hollyoaks but Brendan Brady soon turned into the good guy following his relationship with Ste Hayes.
However in 2013 he left the Channel 4 show and went on to appear in Marvel's movie Guardian's of the Galaxy as the head riot guard.
Adele Silva
Adele left the role of Kelly Windsor in Emmerdale in 2007 in an attempt to crack America.
But, instead of setting Hollywood alight, in 2010 she was pictured working in a Ted Baker store in LA.
She returned to Emmerdale as Kelly in 2011.
Nikki Sanderson
Everyone knows Nikki as mouthy hairdresser Candice from Coronation Street. But, before she joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Maxine in 2012, Nikki tried her hand at success across the pond – to a lukewarm reception.
She managed to land a role in film Boogeyman 3, but sadly for Nikki it went straight to DVD.
Nathalie Emmanuel
She shot to fame in this country as Sasha Valentine on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, but since her exit in 2010 she's managed to find fame stateside.
As well as an appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise, Nathalie landed a role in Game of Thrones as interpreter Missandei. She also features in the second film in the Maze Runner trilogy, The Scorch Trials.
Ricky Whittle
Another Valentine sibling to swap Hollyoaks for Hollywood, Ricky played Calvin from 2006 until 2011, when he was shot dead on his wedding day.
He has since starred in The CW Network series The 100, playing Lincoln, and American God where he has taken on the role of Shadow Moon.
Ben Hardy
This is one actor who has well and truly swapped Walford for Hollywood.
After his shock departure from EastEnders, in which he played Peter Beale aka Ian Beale's son, Ben landed a role in X-Men: Apocalypse – an actual main, speaking part!
Sam Strike
Another EastEnders alumni, Sam quit his role as Johnny Carter in 2014 and went on to star in British drama film Bonded By Blood 2.
He later made his Hollywood debut in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel Leatherface and has since played a serial rapist in the Netflix show Mindhunter.
Rachel Shenton
From 2010 to 2013 Rachel Shenton starred in Hollyoaks as Mitzeee Minniver.
The feisty character left the show and moved to America upon discovering she's five months pregnant with Riley Costello's baby.
After leaving the Oaks, Rachel went on to star in Switched at Birth and White Gold. However, it was in 2018 when she won an Oscar for her short movie The Silent Child, in which she wrote and starred in.
Robert Kazinsky
Rob played EastEnders favourite Sean Slater from 2006 until 2009, but got his big American break when he was cast in the hit vampire series True Blood, playing Macklyn Warlow.
He then appeared in Pacific Rim and Warcraft.
Patsy Palmer
We loved Patsy as Bianca in EastEnders, but she left the soap in 2014 to pursue her American dream.
While she's yet to be cast in any major roles, Patsy did manage to land a job in a Best Buy advert. Well everyone's got to start somewhere, haven't they?
Despite being an actress turned DJ, it's Patsy's children that have made it big in the US!
Lacey Turner
She's well known for playing Stacey Slater in EastEnders but in 2010 Lacey bowed out of the show after her onscreen character fled the country after killing Archie Mitchell.
Ahh throwback.
Following her departure from the show, Lacey played the part of a witch in ITV2's show Switch but it wasn't long before she reprised her role as Stacey.
In 2014 she headed back onto the square and finally confessed to the police that she killed Archie.
Michelle Keegan
Coronation Street fans will remember where Michelle Keegan first started on TV and it was on the Cobbles.
The actress played Tina McIntyre and during her time on the show she hid her abortion from David Platt, she tried to keep Gary and Izzy's baby after she was their surrogate and she was left devastated after her dad faked his own death but ended up actually dying.
It's safe to say that she went out with a bang, after all Rob Donovan pushed her off a balcony.
After leaving the ITV show, Michelle went on Plebs, Tina and Bobby and joined BBC's Our Girl as Corporal Georgie Lane.
Martine McCutcheon
She's well known for playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders but after Frank Butcher ran her over outside the Queen Vic she died.
Fast forward a few years and Martine McCutcheon played Natalie in Love Actually.
That movie that everyone goes crazy about around Christmas time.
She's also appeared in Agatha Christie's Marple, Midsomer Murders and as a panelist on Loose Women.
Roxanne McKee
Roxanne first graced our screen as Louise Summer's in Hollyoaks.
After leaving the Channel 4 show, Roxanne went on appear in EastEnders: E20, Vendetta and Game of Thrones. In the popular HBO programme, she played Doreah; you know the woman who betrayed Daenerys with Xaro and was left to die in the vault with him.
How charming?
Emmett J Scanlan
He played the infamous villain on Hollyoaks but Brendan Brady soon turned into the good guy following his relationship with Ste Hayes.
However in 2013 he left the Channel 4 show and went on to appear in Marvel's movie Guardian's of the Galaxy as the head riot guard.
