EASTENDERS star Cheryl Fergison has opened up on her struggle to find fresh acting work and only earning enough to “keep the roof over” her head.
It came just days after we reported the TV favourite had scrapped her upcoming show in Lytham, Lancashire, due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Cheryl Fergison, 59, who played EastEnders‘ loveable Heather Trott, took to her page on X to give a candid update on her finances following her Albert Square stint.
She wore a checked shirt and went make-up free as she opened up on her “minus” bank balance figures and juggling jobs.
Cheryl said: “I’ve been out of EastEnders for around 13 years.
“I’ve done jobs in between, I was in panto this year, but jobs aren’t continuous.
“It’s not kind of like being in a soap all the time.
“Unless you’re like George Clooney or an A-Lister American star that gets millions for their films, it’s very difficult to be, in inverted commas, rich.
“You just kind of keep by, you keep the roof over your head and that’s about it.”
The BBC One star added: “Some people don’t understand that like everyone else, we have bills to pay, rent to pay, we have to keep everything ticking. We have to get other jobs.”
Cheryl, who is currently on her one-woman stand-up tour, told how people “failed to realise” that “we still have to keep a roof over our head and the bills being paid.”
Admitting many actors can’t purely rely on on-screen gigs she continued: “It’s not a downgrade, its not terrible, it’s just life.
“I am, so grateful for having them [acting jobs] because I know I am lucky enough to do the job I was meant to do.”
She added: “Not all of us are rich by any stretch of the imagination.
“You can look at the minus in my bank account at any time.
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom” over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
“But just have a bit of empathy for some people, when you see them doing other jobs.”
We recently reported how Cheryl has bagged a brand new acting role after struggling to bag new acting gigs following her stint in Walford.
She is now set to star in this year’s pantomime production of Cinderella at The Cresset Theatre.
The actress will be playing the Fairy Godmother during the festive season from December 14 to 31 2024.
It came after the screen star revealed a crippling new health battle after being diagnosed with womb cancer.
Cheryl’s soap character, Heather, was a fan favourite on EastEnders until her untimely demise.
The actress’ character was bludgeoned to death by troublemaking Ben Mitchell in 2012.
She never chose to leave the programme, and the decision was made by EastEnders executives.
At the time, a source told The Sun: “Heather’s character has been hugely popular over the years, but the decision has been taken to cut her out of the show before viewers tire of her.”
Yet, back in April, she teased her return to Walford with a cryptic post.
