Hollyoaks legend Steph Waring has opened up over feeling "distraught" about her axing from the soap, the news leaving her crying "uncontrollably".
The original Hollyoaks cast member shared the sad news last week that producers had decided to write out her character Cindy Cunningham as part of the show's move from five weekly episodes to three.
It had previously been announced that this shift towards making Hollyoaks a digital-led soap would involve a significant number of job reductions on the show.
In an interview with The Sun, Steph said she did "expect more loyalty after almost three decades" on Hollyoaks before learning she'd be losing her job.
"I was learning all week of the people who were going, and I remember crying at one of them, and I had this gut feeling that I would be too," she said.
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"But another part of me was thinking: 'I've just signed a year-long contract, surely it won't be me'. Everyone was telling me I would be fine as I'm an original character."
The actress described the meeting where she learned Cindy would be axed, as writers shared portions of a script for the character's departure.
"They got to the end and said 'And with that, we will be losing Cindy from the show'. I just kept saying 'I don't understand'. I was very distraught, I didn't take it well — I was probably the most dramatic person they told," she said.
"I just kept telling them 'I'm an original character'. I was clutching at anything — telling them I was the first person to give birth on the show! I could see the distress I was causing them because they were upset that I was so upset."
Steph recalls going back to her dressing room after meeting where she "cried uncontrollably". The actress credited the Hollyoaks team for the support they offered following the news, as well as granting her a week off to process this major life change.
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Steph insisted she is now looking at the positives that will come with leaving Hollyoaks, including other job opportunities.
"Two Australian shows have been in touch and one of them would be an absolute dream to do," she said. "I've worked in Australian dramas before so it was nice to know I'm still remembered there. I'm 46 but there's a lot of life left in me yet."
Steph's Hollyoaks exit will air later in 2024, before a time jump that will bring the story forward a full year.
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
