Soap stars who made it big in America – as Mike Parr returns to Emmerdale

Soap stars have sometimes used their stint on TV as a platform to find international success.

From Hollyoaks to Brookside and EastEnders, iconic British soaps have served as a launchpad for some of Hollywood’s hottest actors of the moment. These successes have come in varying degrees, with some lasting a long time Stateside, while others burn bright and die out quickly.

Across the several soaps that are currently running here in UK, a number of well-known Hollywood faces got their big break acting in these soaps. It comes after Michael Parr announced he would be returning to Emmerdale, years after his character Ross Barton left the village.

READ MORE: Emmerdale chaos as bad boy set to shake-up village with huge return confirmed

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So, as Michael celebrates his return to the ITV soap, Daily Star looks at some of the soap stars who made it big across the Atlantic.

Ben Hardy

Ben Hardy first shot to fame back in 2013 when he starred as Peter Beale on the BBC soap EastEnders. Although the role was played by a slew of other actors, Ben’s portrayal of the character sparked something in producers, who saw the then-22-year-old’s potential, as he tackled harrowing storylines such as the death oh his sister Lucy.

After just two years, however, Ben decided to call time on his stint in Walford, leaving in February of 2015. However, it did not take him long to find work as he soon broke into the Hollywood market in X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016, playing the role of the Archangel.

Since then, he has bagged a slew of other roles across a variety of different film genres, such as the period romance film Mary Shelley and the harrowing true story of firefighter Wade Parker in Only the Brave. But his biggest role came in 2018, when he played the role of Queen drummer Roger Taylor in the box office smash Bohemian Rhapsody.

His performance was routinely praised by critics and fans alike, stunned at his meteoric rise to fame. The portrayal of the iconic drummer earned Ben a nomination for Best Performance by a Cast at the Screen Guild Awards.

Anna Friel

Manchester-based actress Anna Friel first appeared on our screens back in 1993, when she played the role of Beth Jordache on Scouse soap Brookside. She also stayed in the role for two years before deciding to leave the Channel 4 show to pursue other career opportunities.

Throughout the noughties, Anna worked in theatre and film, landing small roles here and there. But in 2007, she made her big break in American TV as she landed the main role of Chuck in the comedy drama Pushing Daisies; the show lasted for two years – but not before Anna received a nod for Best Actress in a Comedy Series at the Golden Globes.

Since then, Anna’s acting career has gone from strength to strength – with her visceral skills in Marcella earning her an Emmy nomination. She also was nominated for other major awards such as a BAFTA, as she continues to explore her skills in more psychological thrillers.

Nathalie Emmanuel

Nathalie Emmanuel first kicked off her career in theatre during the late 1990s before landing a role on Hollyoaks in 2006. Taking on the role of Sasha Valentine in the soap, she took on a host of different tiring storylines including prostitution and an addiction to heroin.

Leaving the show behind in 2010, Nathalie began to work in documentaries – eventually being noticed by American producers, who cast her as Missandei, Daenerys Targaryen’s interpreter in the HBO smash Game of Thrones in 2013. Serving on the show for six years, Nathalie’s performance was praised as she was the only regular cast member of colour, with her character’s death coming as a hugely unpopular decision from fans.

After leaving the series behind in 2019, the actress has taken on a host of film and TV roles, including a prominent lead in The Fate of the Furious, alongside Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Her most recent film credit came this year as she starred in the dystopian drama Megalopolis.

Ricky Whittle

Hunky lad Ricky Whittle also got his big break in acting through Hollyoaks, nabbing the role of Calvin Valentine – who also made his debut in 2006. Playing the role of policeman Calvin, Ricky was made to deal with gripping storylines such as the death of his mother, as well as being suspected of the attempted murder of Clare Cunningham.

Ricky opted to leave the show in 2011, five years after he started in the soap, and also following a near-win in the 2009 edition of Strictly Come Dancing. After his success in the UK, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was soon recognised for a huge role.

In 2013, he was eventually cast as Lincoln in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama The 100. He was lauded for his raw and honest portrayal of the character and was soon promoted to a full-blown cast member for the second series.

In the wake of the show’s ending, Ricky has had numerous hit TV shows in America, including sultry drama Mistresses and a leading role in American Gods, alongside Sanaa Lathan. His last acting credit came in February 2024 as Sergeant Bishop in action movie Land of Bad.

Michelle Ryan

Michelle Ryan first found fame at the age of 16 when she was cast for the role of Zoe Slater on EastEnders. She made her first appearance on the show in 2000, with her biggest storyline being the eventual murder of Den Watts, with Zoe promptly leaving the Square soon after in 2005.

Following her exit, Michelle picked up small roles, but worked with well-known actors including Billie Piper and Carmen Electra. Her networking worked in her favour as in February 2007, she was cast as the lead role in the modern adaptation for the sci-fi drama Bionic Woman.

The series was short lived, running for just one season with eight episodes. However, Michelle capitalised on her fame, working alongside several other big names in British TV on the likes of Doctor Who and Merlin.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk