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?

I've wondered this a few times over the years. There are actors in Corrie and EastEnders who have been in it for years,sometimes from the very start (Ken Barlow,Ian Beale) and I can honestly say I have never seen them in anything else. Always thought it was a bit odd as you see so many actors saying that they've left a soap or drama series as they didn't want to be type cast.

The chap who plays Ian Beale does Panto every so often.

It’s a very desirable job! Very well paid. You can also add on 40-50k for panto season for some of the big names.

He also does celebrity quiz shows, he has a lot of general knowledge.

It's probably a stable gig in terms of money. Plus they can probably do a decent sideline signing mugs and stuff and the odd chat show/interview. Who wouldn't want an Ian Beale mug. It's probably one where you are famous enough to get friendly public attention but not too many lunatics. If you stay in it for long enough you can probably trade off it for the rest of your life doing the odd bingo calling and stuff.

Gambling it all on going to Hollywood where yes it may work, but it may also fail horribly won't be for everyone. It is probably also not simply a job of turning up in Hollywood and having it all happen for you. Connections, agents, maybe even working hard to develop a reputation, something they have already done in the UK but might count for relatively little over there. Plus of course a lot of soap characters in the UK tend to be "real people" rather than the more glamourous members of society that US soaps and Holloywood films seem to prefer.

Some people are fine with being typecast, or they think their character has almost no chance of being killed off or written out and are happy to go on playing him/her and worry about life afterwards when/if it happens. Some people aren’t that ambitious, or their idea of a good living from acting doesn’t involve playing Hollywood villains or doing difficult stage roles in Amsterdam.

But surely it’s the same if you look around your workplace? My office has “lifers” who got their first job there and stayed for 30 years, and there’s plenty of people who come for a couple of years to boost their CV and move onto the next thing.

I also think soap acting is a different skill set to Hollywood acting - and I think if you’re aiming for Hollywood you probably don’t start out by applying to Corrie. You could also say the same of theatre and west end - why don’t they all leave to be on TV or in movies. People want different things out of life.

I wonder if the fact Sally Wainwright wrote for Corrie is a factor in the subsequent success of many of the women. She has certainly created some brilliant roles for them.

Why think that everyone in life wants to progress their careers. There's a lot to be said for a steady, stable job that pays well. I think the character who plays Steve has said as much - that he views Corrie as any other 9-5

That is all very true. Didn’t Michelle Ryan have an attempt at Hollywood and it didn’t end great?

It must be hard if you are earning £50-100k your risk that regular pay check. I wonder how the actors feel after playing the same role for 30+ years? Do they thank the gods they got a regular acting job or do they wish they had spread their wings earlier.

Once they're established they can probably negotiate time out to do a stage play or a film if they want to try other things.

Some actors come into soaps when they're already known from other roles. Probably the regular pay cheque seems even more appealing as they get older. Amanda Barrie and whatsername who plays/played Audrey Roberts. And him who played Mike Baldwin had been around in films and tv for a while.

Sarah Lancashire is stellar but, I largely agree, most soap actors aren’t great. Michelle Keegan is f*cking terrible.

Didn't he leave for an extended period and did loads of theatre with great praise for his performance. I'm sure i saw him in an interview

I remember Amanda Burton being in Brookside.
Julie Hesmondhalgh has done some TV and theatre post-Corrie.
And then there’s the wonderful Sue Johnston and also Ricky Tomlinson, who became famous in Brookside.

Lisa Faulkner was in Brookie, too!

Of course Ricky Tomlinson! Still more women seem to become successful after soaps than men.

I guess the format lends itself to short term gigs with regular temporary characters?

I know a stage actor. He was in Shakespeare in Love, My Fair Lady in the West End, but the thing that I always tell people is he was on Midsummer Murders twice - and the first time he was murdered!

My BIL is an actor too, and essentially it is a very inconsistent living.

You have to step outside the comfort zone. It worked for Sarah Lancashire, Suranne Jones, Angela Griffin but for others it's risky. There is a lot of competition and the steady paycheck and being seen on national TV 3 nights a week may be enough. Of course Daniella Westbrook threw it all away and Patsy Palmer moved away. If you are on £100k plus a year and anything else on top that might be good enough.

Danny Dyer has done quite well

I saw him on posters for a show where I live. Yes, he did leave for a while.
He is always going to be Ian Beale though.

Derek Thompson, who played Charlie Fairhead in Casualty, well always be Charlie Fairhead. He was in the Beed series 'Blue Lights' Had a beard and an Irish accent. I could not tell you his character's name as he was Charlie and always will be 😅

Michelle Keegans done ok.

Oh yes, I didn’t mean none would do well. I just meant OP’s question seemed based on the idea that they all had that potential.

Oh yeah i get that. There's very few soap actors who've gone to films as in Hollywood blockbusters. Almost like its two different levels of acting.

I don’t think Hollywood’s ‘better’, by any means, though. They’re just different styles of acting a lot of the time. Look how appallingly hammy Ian McKellen was on Corrie — his acting style is big stage and big screen roles. It was too ‘big’ for low-key soap acting. Simon Pegg is someone who has moved between styles. It can be done.

also bear in mind that "success" in hollywood means you have to start shelling out for things like PAs, publicists, legal advisers, financial advisers, stylists, make up for events, security, a US agent, etc. Plus would usually be advised to join a US union like SAG. None of which the guy playing Steve McDonald probably has to worry about!

Any wages would be paid in dollars so subject to currency conversion, and, if it was a long term TV role, might have to pay tax in the US as well as here - could end up with not as much money left as they assumed.