Hollyoaks is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Channel 4 is planning to make this a big occasion, similar to the 20th and 25th anniversaries. Five years ago, I published an article highlighting ten of the most successful actors from the soap. For the 30th anniversary, I will look at ten more actors who have done well for themselves after appearing in the village near Chester. Like the last list, actors who only had limited appearances in Hollyoaks, like James Corden and Sian Gibson, are ineligible. So are actors who had prolific careers before appearing in Hollyoaks, like Jeff Rowle. If there’s someone you think is missing, like Ricky Whittle and Nathalie Emmanuel, please refer to the previous article.
15. Rhiannon Clements
Starting this list is Lancashire actress Rhiannon Clements. Clements had an 11-month stint on Hollyoaks as Summer Ranger and quickly became a villain. Summer wanted revenge against Brody Hudson, whom she believed killed her father. Summer also entered into a feud with Sienna Blake, which was bold considering Sienna’s past, but they eventually entered into a relationship. A standard Hollyoaks relationship. Summer’s other major action was holding Sienna’s sister, Liberty, hostage.
Before and after Hollyoaks, Clements was a jobber actor. Before her soap role, Clements was in Doctor Who and the BBC sitcom The Other One. She also appeared in shows like Big Boys and Sister Boniface Mysteries. Recently, Clements has been earning more regular roles. She was in the ITV miniseries MaryLand with Suranne Jones, The Power of Parker with Conleth Hill and Sian Gibson, and was a detective constable in two seasons of Vera.
14. Karen Hassen
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Karen Hassen was in Hollyoaks from 2010 to 2013. Hassen played Lynsey Nolan, a nurse who moved to Hollyoaks with her best friend. Lynsey made her Hollyoaks debut in a season of Hollyoaks Later, where it was revealed, she used to date Kris Fisher. She was upset when Kris returned to Northern Ireland after coming out as gay.
During her time on Hollyoaks, Lynsey entered into a few relationships. Lynsey’s most notable storyline was when she discovered Silas Blisset was a serial killer, and he played mind games with the Northern Irish woman. One Halloween, Silas made Lysney dress up as Catwoman, and needed to stop him from killing someone that night. Lynsey left Hollyoaks after being murdered in a whodunit mystery. Lynsey’s exit was kept a secret and a genuine surprise.
Before appearing in Hollyoaks, Hassen’s most notable role was in the critically acclaimed film Hunger. It was a small role with no dialogue, but it was notable since Hassen’s character smuggled contraband into the Maze Prison through her intimate parts.
Hassen has predominantly worked in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Her first major role after Hollyoaks was in the hit show The Fall, where she played a victim of a home invasion, who was nearly killed and lost her memory. Vikings fans will probably recognise Hassen because of her role in the third and fourth seasons, playing Therese, a Frankish noblewoman who played court politics. Hassen had a lead role in the mockumentary series Soft Border Patrol. Hassen played the executive director of the Northern Ireland border agency during the Brexit years.
Most recently, Hassen has been a regular cast member during the third and fourth seasons of Hope Street, a police procedural set in a small coastal town in Northern Ireland. Hope Street has had some major Northern Irish talent in it, such as Tara Lynne O’Neill (Derry Girls), Kerri Quinn (Coronation Street), and Rachel Tucker (Elphaba on the West End and Broadway).
13. Saira Choudhry
Saira Choudhry arrived in Hollyoaks in 2008 as Anita Roy. Anita was the youngest member of the Roy family and was a shy, academic girl. Anita’s biggest storyline was when she was the victim of racist bullying and attempted to bleach her skin because of it. She also helped Jason Costello come out as transgender. Anita’s final storyline was finding out she was adopted, and she set out to find her birth mother.
Hollyoaks gave Choudhry her first main role, although she was in her mid-20s when she was playing a schoolgirl. There was an unintentionally funny moment when Hannah Ashworth tried to support Anita, and the pair role reversed their ages.
Following Hollyoaks, Choudhry had plenty of one-off appearances on British TV, ranging from Doctors to McDonald & Dodds. Choudhry has had regular roles as well. She was in all three seasons of the Channel 4 police procedural No Offence where she played PC Tegan Thompson. She was also in all six episodes of the BBC drama Life and played Nancy in the CBBC show Dodger, a prequel to Oliver Twist.
Choudhry has most recently been a part of the teaching staff at Waterloo Road. Her character was in a love triangle with Donte Charles and her own daughter.
12. Kassius Nelson
Kassius Nelson is an Islington girl who appeared in Hollyoaks for two years. Nelson played Jade Albright, the younger sister of Sonia, who was pretending to be the Loveday’s long-lost daughter. Jade was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and spent most of her time fighting her illness. She was also the victim of bullying. Nico Blake and Peri Lomax targeted Jade whilst she was a cancer patient. Jade lost her battle with cancer in 2017. Nelson won two prizes at the 2017 British Soap Awards.
Nelson’s first big role after Hollyoaks was appearing in three episodes of the Netflix adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Her career shot upwards in the early 2020s. She had a minor role in Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho: she played a student in Thomasin McKenzie’s dorm. Nelson had a more significant role in the 2021 Pirates, where she played the main love interest.
Nelson’s biggest roles have been on Netflix. She played the younger version of Angela Griffin’s (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road) in the mystery series White Lines. She entered the world of comic adaptations in Dead Boy Detectives, where she played Crystal Palace, a psychic who could communicate with ghosts.
As well as acting, Nelson is a published playwright.
11. Carley Stenson
Carley Stenson played Steph Cunningham, nee Dean, a Hollyoaks legend. Steph had an 11-year run on Hollyoaks. She was the first member of the Dean family to appear in the show and saw a tremendous amount of character growth in the series. She started as a bully who harassed Lisa Hunter when they were in school together. Steph mellowed after being attacked by the serial killer Toby Mills. The attack by Toby haunted Steph for years since she developed epilepsy and had mental scars.
Steph became a more comedic character during her student days. She was studying acting and developed an ego despite her lack of talent. Steph was able to show a rawness during an acting showcase in an episode of Hollyoaks Later, earning herself an agent. Steph eventually settled down with Max Cunningham and became a mother figure to Tom Cunningham.
Steph’s time on Hollyoaks came to an end when she was diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer. Steph left the show as a hero because she died in a fire while rescuing Amy Barnes and her children. Tom honoured Steph by naming his daughter after her.
Following Hollyoaks, Stenson has worked as a West End actress. She has had some big roles, appearing as Princess Fiona in Shrek: The Musical, Elle Wood in Legally Blonde: The Musical, and in Spamalot as the Lady in the Water. She has also played Fantine in Les Misérables on the West End and during a UK tour. Stenson reappeared on the TV series when she had a recurring role in Doctors and was a contestant on Dancing on Ice.
10. Lauren McQueen
Lauren McQueen is a Liverpudlian actress who has been acting since she was a teenager. She had many TV roles early in her career, with some of the most notable being 4 O’Clock Club, The Mill, and Ordinary Lies. McQueen also had leading roles in the indie films The Violators and The Wasting.
McQueen appeared as Lily Drinkwell, who moved in with her aunt after her mother died. Lily was an intelligent teenager with aspirations of going to a top university, but suffered a lot during her time in Hollyoaks. Lily was scarred after a car accident, which destroyed her self-esteem, and was bullied by Peri and Yasmin, which led Lily to self-harm. Lily’s self-harm storyline won the Best Storyline and Best Single Episode prizes at the 2018 British Soap Awards. Lily’s self-harm led to her death because she developed sepsis.
Lily’s other storyline involved her love life. She fell for Prince McQueen and got married at the age of 17, despite her aunt’s wishes. Even though Lily was married, she did end up having an affair with Romeo Quinn.
Following on from Hollyoaks, McQueen appeared in several TV shows. Her first post-Hollyoaks role was two episodes of the police procedural Bulletproof. She appeared in quite a few historical dramas like Belgravia: The Next Chapter and Masters of the Air. Her biggest film role was in Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of Here where she played Tom Hanks’ younger sister.
The main reason why McQueen made it onto this list is due to her potential. She is set to play Maid Marian in MGM+’s upcoming series Robin Hood. It’s a big-budget TV adaptation of the famous legend and features Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen.
McQueen is also an excellent singer. She has released videos on YouTube where she performs showtunes and pop songs.
9. Gemma Atkinson
Gemma Atkinson was famous for playing Lisa Hunter, the youngest member of the Hunter family. Lisa appeared as a shy teenager who became the victim of bullying. Lisa’s first major storyline was her self-harming, a groundbreaking story in the early noughties as it brought awareness of the issue to the young viewership. Lisa was also in many relationships, starting with Brian the Goth, and Cameron Clark, who tried to commit suicide. Her major relationship was with Ben Davies, the older brother of one of her friends, and considered one of the sexiest men in the village. Lisa had to fight for Ben since she entered into a rivalry with Louise Summers, another Hollyoaks sex symbol. Lisa and Ben ended up leaving Hollyoaks in 2006 and starred in the spin-off Hollyoaks: In the City.
Atkinson ended up having regular roles in two other British soaps, Casualty and Emmerdale. She also appeared in numerous independent films in the UK. However, Atkinson’s success has been beyond acting. She became a sex symbol in the UK and voted multiple times in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women list, and became a glamour model. Atkinson became a reality TV star, appearing in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Masterchef. She was in second place in the 2017 edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Gamers may recognise Atkinson for her role in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.
8. Hannah Tointon
Hannah Tointon had a year-long run on Hollyoaks. She played Katy Fox, Warren Fox’s younger sister. Warren was a gangster and protective of his sister, which made Katy’s relationship with Justin Burton troublesome. Katy was unaware of Warren’s capability to commit murder and was targeted by one of Warren’s rivals: the notorious Clare Devine. Katy and Clare earned the award for Spectacular Scene of the Year at the 2008 British Soap Awards. Katy was unceremoniously killed off in 2017 when she suffered from a drug overdose off-screen.
Before Hollyoaks, Tointon was in the CBBC sitcom Kerching, where she was in the middle of a love triangle. She also appeared in Dream Team, whose character entered into a relationship with another Hollyoaks actor, Ricky Whittle. I personally wanted Tointon and Whittle to rekindle their onscreen relationship, mainly to annoy Warren.
Post-Hollyoaks, Tointon appeared in the horror film The Children, which received a decent critical reception, and had major roles in ITV2’s Switch, the third season of Mr Selfridge, and Sky Max’s adaptation of The Midwich Cuckoos. She also had plenty of one-off appearances in shows like Doctors and Midsomer Murders.
Tointon’s most notable role was in The Inbetweeners where she played a love interest for Simon. Simon should have stuck with her since Tointon’s Tara was an indie chick who wanted to spend time with the boy. Tointon ended up in a relationship with Joe Thomas, and they have a child together. As well as The Inbetweeners, Tointon and Thomas worked together on the comedy film The Festival.
Tointon’s older sister, Kara, was also an actress. Her most notable roles were in Dream Team, Teachers, and EastEnders.
7. Dylan Llewellyn
Dylan Llewellyn is a RADA-trained actor whose career got an early start in Hollyoaks. Llewellyn played Martin “Jono” Johnson, one of many new sixth formers who joined the soap in 2011. Jono’s main storyline was his relationship with Ruby Button, and the teens attempt to run away and get married. Their attempt to run away led to a major car chase, which led to the death of many characters, including Jono.
Llewellyn became a comedy specialist and appeared in major comedy shows in the UK. He played James Magurie, AKA the Wee English Fella in Derry Girls, who was bullied because he was an English teen living in 1990s Derry. The Northern Irish sitcom led to all the Derry Girls having successful acting careers afterwards. After Derry Girls, Llewellyn led the Channel 4 sitcom Big Boys with Jon Pointing and Camille Coduri. His character was a closeted mummy’s boy who was forced to come out of his shell when he went to university.
Most recently, Llewellyn has appeared in the Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise. Llewellyn plays a member of the Shipton Abbott constabulary. Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise are popular in the UK, because they are seen as cosy murder mystery shows.
6. Bronagh Waugh
Bronagh Waugh was a part of a contingent of Northern Irish characters who moved to Hollyoaks. She played Cheryl Brady, who was mostly a comedic character who became the owner of The Loft. She was the sister of the gangster Brendan. She left the village after Brendan took the blame for their father’s death. Waugh’s time on Hollyoaks earned a lot of nominations from the various soap awards in the UK.
Following her role on Hollyoaks, Waugh became a part of the acclaimed crime drama The Fall where she played Sally Ann Spector, a nurse and wife to the killer Paul Spector (Jamie Doran). Waugh has appeared in many shows in the UK. She has played police detectives in Viewpoint, Ridley, and The Stolen Girl. She has a lengthy career in crime shows, having also appeared in Unforgotten, Des, and The Suspect, and had one-off appearances in Strike, Midsomer Murders, and Death in Paradise.
Waugh has also made one-off appearances in shows like Holby City and was memorably featured in the Derry Girls episode “President.” American audiences will probably recognise Waugh from her appearances in Channel Zero: Candle Cove and Supernatural.
5. Wallis Day
Wallis Day was the third actor to play Holly Cunningham, the daughter of Cindy Cunningham. Day was brought in because the showrunners wanted an older actor to play the character. Day was 18, playing a 14-year-old character. Day looked older than 18, even when she was wearing a school uniform.
Day’s version of Holly was an entitled brat who had to go to Hollyoaks High after her mother could no longer afford her private school. Holly was a posh girl who had to slum it in a state school. Day’s most memorable storyline as Holly was being in a relationship with a sixth former who had a crazy stalker. Day was only in the show for a year and was replaced by Amanda Clapham.
Hollyoaks gave Day her first TV role, and she has worked prominently as a TV actress. She has had guest roles in shows ranging from the sitcom Trollied, American soap The Royal, and historical drama Will. Her biggest role on British TV was in ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde. Day’s most recognisable roles were in two comic book shows: Krypton and Batwoman. She replaced Ruby Rose in the latter show. Day was able to expand her genre work by appearing in the Red Sonja reboot.
4. Guy Burnet
Guy Burnet appeared in Hollyoaks in 2002 and was on the soap for five years. He played Craig Dean, the youngest member of the Dean family. He first appeared as a foil to his older sister, Steph, and his early storylines were marked by his intelligence and attempts to get a girlfriend. Craig hit the jackpot when he dated Sarah Barnes, the most popular girl in school. Craig ended up being in one of the most iconic relationships when he realised he was gay and went out with his best friend John-Paul McQueen.
After Hollyoaks, Burnet moved to America and appeared in many main shows. These include Ray Donovan, Chicago Fire, 3 Body Problem, and FUBAR. He had a leading role in sci-fi thriller The Feed, along with actors like Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) and Clare-Hope Ashitey (Children of Men).
Burnet has also appeared in American movies. A couple of his most notable were in Pitch Perfect 3 and Oppenheimer. In Pitch Perfect 3, Burnet played a music producer who convinces Beca to become a solo singer, whilst in Oppenheimer, Burnet played George C. Eltenton, a chemical engineer in the Manhattan Project and secretly working for the Soviet Union.
3. Mandip Gill
Mandip Gill is the first of two Doctor Who actors to make this list. Hailing from Leeds, Hollyoaks gave Gill her first TV role, where she played Phoebe Jackson, who was adopted by Jacqui McQueen. Phoebe was a teenage runaway who met George Smith when living on the streets. Phoebe was shown to be a tough character who had a good heart. Gill was on Hollyoaks for three years before her character was killed off. Phoebe was one of the cruellest murders committed by the Purple Glove Killer.
Like many actors who appeared in Hollyoaks, Gill’s first roles after the soap were in other British shows like Doctors and Love, Lies and Records. Gill became one of the Doctor’s companions during Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the Time Lord. Gill played Yasmin Khan, a Sheffield-based police officer who ends up being a part of The Fam. Some of Yasmin’s most memorable storylines were “Demons of the Punjab,” where she visited her family during the Partition of India, and “Can You Hear Me?” where it was revealed that Yasmin was suicidal when she was a teenager. As the series progressed, it was suggested that The Doctor and Yasmin had feelings for each other.
During her time on Doctor Who, Gill appeared in the indie drama The Flood. After Doctor Who, she appeared in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story, taking over a role from Lily Allen, and was a lead character in the Paramount+ series Curfew. Gill has also worked as a narrator on factual shows.
2. Nico Mirallegro
Nico Mirallegro was probably the biggest admission from the original list, so let’s rectify that injustice here. Hollyoaks gave Mirrallegro his first role, where he played Barry “Newt” Newton, an emo kid who became the Osbornes’ foster child. Newt’s big storyline involved him suffering from schizophrenia, seeing an old friend, and entering into a suicide pact with a girl called Rae. Newt survived and got the treatment he needed. During his time at Hollyoaks, Mirallegro earned two nominations for British Soap Awards.
Mirallegro became a regular on British TV. He appeared in numerous shows like Doctors, Upstairs Downstairs, and Rillington Place. His biggest role was in the BBC One drama The Village, where he earned a BAFTA nomination. He was also in the Channel 4 comedy-drama My Mad Fat Diary alongside Sharon Rooney and Jodie Comer, and played the main love interest. Recently, Mirallergro has led the Paramount+ series Stags.
Some of Mirallegro’s biggest film roles were in Spike Island (featuring Emilia Clarke), Mike Leigh’s historical epic Peterloo, and the acclaimed TV movie Murdered for Being Different.
Honourable Mention: Isabelle Smith
Before the reveal of the most successful Hollyoaks actor in the second list, let’s detour to an actor who is likely to have a successful career: Isabelle Smith. Smith started acting when she was young and appeared on the West End in a minor role. After graduating from The Arden in Manchester, Smith earned roles in short films and had a three-episode role in Coronation Street.
Smith made her debut in Hollyoaks in January 2024. She played Frankie Osborne, Darren Osborne’s suddenly aged daughter. Frankie had a negative impression after crashing Ella Richardson’s memorial and was hated by many of the characters. However, it was revealed she had been sexually abused by her twin brother. Frankie had been given some heavy-hitting storylines. After her sexual abuse storyline, she became the victim of sex trafficking.
Because of these dark storylines and Smith’s performance, the young Manchurian has earned a lot of praise. It would be tough work for any actor. Smith has already won the Best Newcomer awards at the Inside Soap and British Soap Awards, and been nominated for more.
Even during her time at Hollyoaks, Smith has also appeared in an episode of Doctors where her character murdered her sister, and the ITV police procedural, Ridley. Smith clearly has the talent to succeed as an actor in the UK. It wouldn’t be surprising if she earns more roles on TV, films, and the stage.
1. Tosin Cole
Topping the second list is Tosin Cole. Cole played Neil Cooper, a part of the intake of sixth formers in 2011, joining established characters like Ruby Button, Esther Bloom, and Bart MacQueen, along with new characters such as Maddie Morrison and Jono. Cole was on Hollyoaks for a year, with his biggest storylines being his driving lessons from Tony, sending gifts to Mitzeee, and meeting the rapper Lethal Bizzle in Amsterdam. Neil was killed in the “Enjoy the Ride” storyline, where he died in a car explosion.
After Hollyoaks, Cole had one-off appearances in British TV staples like Holby City and Lewis, and small roles in films. His big break came when he was cast as Ryan Sinclair in Doctor Who and was a part of The Fam with the Thirteenth Doctor. His character was known for his relationship with Graham, Ryan’s step-grandfather, and the pair grew closer during the series. Cole was in Doctor Who for two seasons, leaving in the 2021 New Year’s Eve episode “Revolution of the Daleks.”
Cole’s film career took off during and after his time on Doctor Who. He had a supporting role in the acclaimed romance drama The Souvenir and its sequel. He appeared in Pirates as a sarcastic barber, Till, where he played the Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers, and the keyboardist Tyrone Downie in Bob Marley: One Life. On TV, Cole led the first season of the AMC legal drama 61st Street with Courtney B. Vance, where he played a high school athlete accused of being a gang member. His other major TV role was in the Netflix series Supacell.
Cole has also had a solid stage career, appearing in Stop and Ear for Eye on the West End.
