Why do you think this happens for actors?

[orgmatdane]

Why do you think actors on Coronation Street often stay for years or decades playing the same role? Aren’t they supposed to be famous actors who could get massive roles elsewhere or to progress their careers, for example, why don’t they all move to Hollywood?

Or, is it because they are less likely to be successful in getting better careers than Coronation Street?

Who did he play?

I have a friend who is an actor in a soap.
What others have said is right. It’s a job close to home with a regular salary. Means he gets to be fully involved in his kids lives as he’s not travelling for work anymore.
It also means he can focus on writing, voiceover work and do the occasional play without the stress of wondering when his next job will be.

I would imagine there’s a bit of a stigma among industry types about soap actors. Then there’s the points others have raised about steady income etc.

There’s no doubt some a fabulous actors to have came out of corrie etc but other than Sarah Lancashire & Susanne Jones none of them are starring in ‘peak/prestige tv’ type shows and it took them years to be as well regarded as they are.

Kylie is a megastar but she’s not exactly known for acting any more unless you are old enough to remember Charlene.

It takes years for most actors who become well regarded to become so from.any sphere though usually.

The vast majority of actors earn very little indeed. Most actors spend only a small proportion of the year actually acting, most of them have to do other work as well. Even when they do get acting work, most of it is poorly paid. The actors you see in magazines in their houses with swimming pools probably represent less than 1 percent of the profession.

As for why Coronation Street actors don’t go to Hollywood, it’s hard to believe that’s a serious question.

The longest running British ‘soap’ is The Archers - obviously a bit different because it’s radio but quite a few of the long running regulars had other serious jobs - perhaps most notably Charlotte Martin who (brilliantly imo) plays Susan is a clinical psychologist.

Job security, reasonable working hours, more family friendly, decent pay and long term contract.
Acting is an incredibly fragile career, even professional actors have other jobs. Most actors are struggling to make ends meet or give up. If you work in theatre the hours are unsocial, long and involve a lot of travelling. Even if you’re mega successful you will be away from home a lot. I can see why a getting a stable job on a soap close to home is like hitting the jackpot,

Also, the whole thing with long running soaps is that the characters are there for years and years - you’re following their lives. It would be weird and not a soap any more if they all changed out every few years.

If every soap actor was destined for Hollywood, we’d have no one left in the soaps!
Maybe they…enjoy it? Maybe they like their jobs.
I’ve been a teacher in the same school for 14 years. Should I not be destined to be a Head somewhere bigger and better? No, I love my job, I like my routine, I’m happy where I am on the pay scale and like the familiarity of it all. Maybe it’s the same for Sally Webster and pals.

I dont watch modern corrie as its shit
But I can't imagine the actors that play Kevin Webster ,or Steve Mcdonald, playing any other part they have been in it that long.

I think you’re a bit confused about acting, OP.

Sarah Lancashire ,Suranne Jones, Katherine Kelly all got out before they became type cast they are all great actresses and quite versatile unlike some other actors on corrie.

I did not know that!
The main break out from The Archers has to be Tamsin Greig.
And also iirc Kellie Bright.

You could say the same about anyone in any job, why aren’t they moving on and trying to reach the very top. Some people just don’t want to, and some have families and life gets in the way. Not everyone can get to the top either. I don’t think I would want anything to do with Hollywood myself. Loads of reasons
i suppose!

How much would a regular on a soap opera earn? Roughy.

Not Corrie but Jo Joyner has done very well too

Most are rubbish actors LOL

Are there any male English soap stars who have been successful after leaving?

Wasn't Jude Law in a soap?

The actor who played Roy Tucker ran a pub.

Felicity Jones has a pretty stella career too!

He was! He was in Families for 2 years. Never heard of it and never saw it 🤣

Well a steady job at a single location and probably good hours suits some people especially if you have a family

not everyone wants stellar fame and fortune

What do you think is the maximum time to stay on a soap if you then want to branch out? 3 years? 5 years? Much longer than that and surely you will struggle whatever your ability as an actor

Ha! Me neither. I thought he had at least been in Eastenders or something.

Probably the same reason anyone else stays in a presumably reasonably well paid, stable job.