Soap stars who flopped in America from shop assistant to one-hit wonder
As Michelle Ryan rejoins EastEnders as gobby Zoe Slater after trying her luck stateside in the axed remake of Bionic Woman, we look at other soap actors from Enders, Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks who have tried to crack America
Soap fans are celebrating the return of Michelle Ryan to EastEnders - back as gobby Zoe Slater after a 20-year gap. She left Walford in 2005 after landing the role of Jaime Sommers in the US remake of Bionic Woman.
The show was set to make her a huge US TV star, but sadly the 2007 show was axed after just one series.
Michelle, 41, is far from the only British star to be enjoying rebound soap success after following their acting dreams over the pond.
Even one Oscar winner realised that home really is where the heart is...
READ MORE: Emmerdale star loses 4 stone as lifestyle change reverses major health issue
Patsy Palmer, EastEnders
Michelle's Albert Square colleague, famous for those yells of "Rickaaay!" as Bianca Butcher, headed to California in 2014 with her husband Richard Merkell and her four children.
But her career did not make as much headway out there, according to her IMDB entry, which cites a 2014 TV commercial for Best Buy and a UK short film in 2015, which starred her son Charley Palmer Rothwell, 33.
Patsy does have a very glamorous claim to LA fame though.
Her son Fenton Merkell, 25, dated supermodel Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber, after they met as models.
But the allure of Bianca's Puffa jacket has proven too strong. Patsy, 53, has yo-yoed in and out of the BBC soap for years. She returned last year, staying until earlier this year, when she went on Celebrity Big Brother.
Rob Kazinsky, EastEnders
He played Sean Slater from 2006 until 2009, before landing his big break in vampire series True Blood in 2013, as Macklyn Warlow.
Rob, 41, then made the jump to the big screen in Pacific Rim (2013), Warcraft (2016) and Captain Marvel (2019). However it appears after time in the Marvel universe he was yearning for something more down to earth - as he headed back to EastEnders for a brief stint in 2019, and then made two more appearances in 2021 and 2022
Nikki Sanderson, Coronation Street
As mouthy hairdresser Candice, she was a favourite on the ITV soap from 1995 to 2005.
She tried her hand across the pond, with mixed results. Nikki, 41, did land a role in 2008 horror film Boogeyman 3, PRAISE but it went straight to DVD. Fast forward to 2012 and she joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Maxine Minniver, to great success.
She was praised for playing a domestic violence victim in one of the Channel 4 soap's most harrowing storylines. Nikki won the Inside Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2023, before quitting the soap this year.
Rachel Shenton, Hollyoaks
She starred as Mitzeee Minniver for three years before leaving in 2013. She went on to appear in US series Switched at Birth from 2014 to 2017. The following year she won an Oscar for her short film The Silent Child, based on her own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf.
Rachel, 37, now stars in the family friendly drama All Creatures Great and Small on 5, as James Herriot's love interest.
Adele Silva, Emmerdale
Aside from a five-year break from 2000, the actress was part of the furniture at the ITV soap - first appearing as Kelly
Windsor in 1993 aged 13. She tried to leave Kelly behind in 2007 and moved to the US, but struggled to find acting jobs, and in 2010 she was pictured working in a Ted Baker store in LA.
Adele came back to Emmerdale briefly before starring in 2012 comedy horror film Strippers vs Werewolves with Freddy Kruger actor Robert Englund.
Bagging more UK acting jobs rather than LA ones, Adele, 44, then headed to Hollyoaks for seven episodes in 2015, playing Leela Lomax's cousin, Angela Brown
Joshua Richards, Emmerdale
Joshua's career path is pretty unique as, unlike others soap rebounders, he was a Hollywood heavyweight who turned his back on Tinseltown to appear in soapland. More than two decades ago, Josh was starring with Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Peter O'Toole in 2004 blockbuster Troy. Josh, 65, also starred in 2017 film King Arthur: Excalibur Rising, before landing the role of Bear Wolf on Emmerdale.
It was a dream job, because he was desperate to work in Yorkshire, where he has lived for 30 years "and be home in time for my tea". But he also has some early soap pedigree, after appearing in an episode of Heartbeat back in 1999.
And here are some of the homegrown acting talents who became global stars after heading stateside...
Idris Elba, Family Affairs
His first big break came in the Channel 5 soap in 1997, as Tim Webster, followed by London's Burning in 2001, before trying his luck in the US .
Idris, 52, hit the big-time playing Stringer Bell in the iconic cop series The Wire from 2002 to 2004. On the big screen, he has been in American Gangster (2007), Prometheus (2012) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
Himesh Patel, EastEnders
Himesh is one of biggest soap exports, and is now successful film actor since leaving his role as Tamwar Masood in EastEnders from 2007 to 2016.
He has appeared in the Beatles inspired 2019 movie Yesterday, Christopher Nolan film Tenet (2020), Don't Look Up (2021), and 2022. film Enola Holmes 2. Himesh, 34, is now filming Enola Holmes 3, as Dr John Watson.
Nathalie Emmanuel, Hollyoaks
Three years after leaving the Channel 4 soap, as Sasha Valentine, in 2010, she played the major role of Missandei in Game of Thrones until 2019.
She then appeared in 2022 horror film The Invitation, Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis last year, and Natalie, 36, also turned up in Fast & Furious seven, eight and nine.
Ben Hardy, EastEnders Shortly after leaving his role of Peter Beale, he was cast in 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse, followed by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and Love at First Sight (2023).
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Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Sky-high head-gear took centre stage on the final day of Royal Ascot Credit: PA 9 Unsurprisingly milliner Anna Gilder (left) had perfected her hat game with a little help from her friends Credit: PA 9 Fellow hat-maker Rachel Ellis Oates showcased this show-stopping piece Credit: PA 9 It wasn't all summer dresses, sharp tailoring kept this guest looking fly Credit: PA Day five saw guests arriving in a wash of rainbow brights with subtlety ditched in favour of bold and daring ensembles. Naturally head-gear was the focal point of many of the ladies' outfits with the woman showcasing an impressive display of hats, fascinators and headpieces. Keen to keep their cool, many racegoers came prepared for the hot weather, armed with hand-held fans and parasols. And of course plenty of sunglasses were seen perched on the noses of the well-heeled attendees today as squinting is hardly stylish. 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'Greatest' James Bond film of all time ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
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