Many fans fondly remember actor Charlie Clements for playing the loveable Bradley Branning in EastEnders over 10 years ago, but now the star has revealed that he decided to embark on a different career path after he left the show.
Surprisingly, the former soap star works as a chef at a garden centre, but since the restaurant has been closed due to lockdown, he has now been working more permanently in the garden department.
When interviewed by news publication Metro, Charlie spoke openly about his career since leaving EastEnders in 2010, describing how he’s continued to support his family when acting jobs began to dry up.
Charlie said: “I’ve been working as a chef in a garden centre close to where I live. I’d always enjoyed cooking so I applied and they took me on. I was thrown in at the deep end.
“It was hard work but I’ve enjoyed it. I started in November 2019. Acting will always be my first love but I got to the point, like a lot of actors do, where you’re not always going to be working and you need to find other ways of supporting yourself and your family.”
He added: “Coming out of lockdown I’ve been back at the garden centre but obviously the restaurant is closed so I’ve been moved out into the plant department. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve found a new love for plants that I didn’t realise I had.”
Bradley Branning was a well-liked character EastEnders and was often the centre of several significant storylines.
But his character was killed off in a dramatic way after he fell from the roof of the Queen Victoria pub while being pursued by a policeman.
After he departed from the soap, Charlie continued to train as an actor and attended The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where he gained his master’s degree.
Although his main job is at the garden centre, Charlie will now be starring in The Mousetrap in London’s West End.
Though the play has been running for 69 years, the actor confessed that he had never seen the play beforehand but was only aware of some parts of the story.
Charlie will be playing sergeant Trotter, who is the police officer that arrives at Monkswell Manor to debate a murder that took place in London with a group of seven guests who have arrived at a countryside hotel.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
