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 no longer watch the soaps but I sometimes see EastEnders on the TV when scrolling and seems a lot of the same actors/actresses as 20 years ago. I think they know they are into a good thing, a good paycheck and regular work so it's worth staying in the role.
An actress from the show Grey's anatomy in the USA recently said (this is paraphrased but can be found online) that it was worth staying in the same show and getting a good paycheck and making sure she had security which I can understand.
I remember back when it was common for pretty soap actress would perform well in a major storyline and the next thing she was moving to LA and than we never heard of them again.

Some of them won’t be interested in going to Hollywood for various reasons - family ties, prefer British culture, don’t want the hassle of setting up somewhere to live, sorting out a visa and trying to get an agent. And if they’re middle aged then it’s unlikely they’ll get any parts, no matter how talented. I think the only one over 40 who’s done that and been successful is Sarah Lancashire who was acclaimed for her performance in the TV show Julia a few years ago. But she was already well established before she did that.

That's a very good point and, yes, I would imagine that's played a huge part. For a start, she's possibly had access to all of this great actresses and can possibly write stuff with them in mind?!

Another plop and run opener, OP?

I have been in the same job for 10 years because it suits me and my family and my life. Would I earn more if I had moved around? Probably. But this works on a lot of levels, so why change it if I’m earning enough for the life I want?

Exactly. Most of us take a job which works for us and our situation.
My friend lives a normal life -school run, kids football coach, drinks with mates in the village pub etc. Acting is a job and a soap part means a regular income and he commutes from home.
The only difference is he will get recognised on a night out but that’s it really. He only does the publicity he’s contractually obliged to do so
manages to go under the radar a bit.

He has appeared on the front cover of some of the TV/soap magazines which is funny to spot in our local shop. But they only happens if he’s part of a big story line.

Could you imagine Tom cruise in corrie 🤣🤣

Although im glad Chris Hemsworth made the move from Home and Away to Hollywood 🥰

Yep, even the ones who went on to something else, Suranne Jones and Michelle Keegan are just playing themselves, they don't act any different from when they were in Corrie, they sound exactly the same in everything they do.

Did you train to be an actor, playing different characters from different worlds? People such as John Pickard and Barbara Knox have played the same characters for decades, so that comparison is a bit disingenuous. But I know some actors have no training,

I said this on another thread but even though I haven't watched soaps for years but I do sometimes wonder what happened to people who were on them for years and then got the sack. Malandra Burrows from Emmerdale is one that springs to mind, on there for decades but a terrible actress and to the best of my knowledge didn't get any acting work afterwards. It must feel like massive comedown having to get a normal job after being in telly land for so long.

Sarah Lancaster, Suranne Jones, Angela Griffin are very much exceptions to the rule IMO (in that they can actually act) so If Coronation Street were to end tomorrow then a lot of the older actors would likely retire but people like Kevin, Fizz and Maria would be fucked.

Kylie didn't hit the big time as an actor though.
Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Hugh Jackman(?) definitely did it.
Sarah Lancashire is a huge UK actor, but not Hollywood.

I too also wonder what happened to some of them after they leave. I’m a big theatre goer so I know who’s doing what with theatre so it seems a lot just disappear into the ether! I’ve always assumed many become professional landlords or SAHP’s. Some get ill or disabled and rely on benefits (Peter Adamson who played Len Farclough for example).

He was never going to be hired to act again after the allegations of child sexual assault though.

Why is it disingenuous? Surely most of us go
through life balancing up ambition, family, pay etc etc, whatever our line of work.

Don’t forget Gaynor Faye who was in all her mums dramas after Corrie (Kay Mellor)

SJ was slightly posher in GJ

And basically played the same character in every single one.

She could at least have asked her mum to write her a bit of a range.

He had plenty of theatre work up until he got ill.

Absolutely

I was making a joke 😀

Some try and make the break elsewhere but then decide that they prefer the regular income and stability. For example Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater Eastenders) is one. She did really well in BBC's our girl and was quite an in depth character. She then moved back to Eastenders after a season, she then started her own family etc so I imagine Eastenders offered the steady work for her.

Can’t Maria and Fizz go to Hollywood?

Some actors are exceptional and can make it out of soaps and go on to do amazing things. Think Margot Robbie, Suranne Jones, Michelle Keegan.

Others are just awful actors who were fortunate to get that role. I’m thinking about the guy who plays Tyrone in corrie if he’s still in it.

It's regular, fairly secure work. They may also get on with the other cast members and that could be a reason to stay. A fair few of Corrie actors have done I'm a Celebrity, which is probably a good stepping stone into other work.

Sally Wainwright wrote for Corrie when Sarah Lancashire was the wonderful ditzy Rachel.
I read an interview with SW, she said she didn’t enjoy her Corrie time, the cast were unfriendly and stand offish. The actress who was friendly and stood out was SL. She said she would write a drama in the future and like SL to audition. So Last Tango in Halifax was born. Then of course Happy Valley. Both SL and the wonderful Nicola Walker are still friends with SW, and apparently meet regularly.

Its a steady, reliable and fairly high income job and acting is notoriously competitive.

I've often noticed that soap stars get quite famous on a specific soap, then leave for a while to seek further fame only to return back to the same soap when they cant make it in film or other tv roles

Yet we barely if ever see anyone from the bill since it ended 😓

Some actors are exceptional and can make it out of soaps and go on to do amazing things. Think Margot Robbie, Suranne Jones, Michelle Keegan

Margot Robbie is exceptional but no way are Michelle Keegan and Suranne Jones in the same league, they act and sound the same in every single thing they're in, Margot Robbie was superb playing Tonya Harding, even down to the accent...