TERRI: I’ve been struck by curse of the soaps

TERRI Dwyer says being known for Hollyoaks has made it harder for her to find acting work.

She played Ruth Osborne on the Channel 4 soap between 1995 and 2001.

But Terri said: “The judgment towards soap actors is harsh.

“If you come out of a soap and go straight into another acting job, then it’s great.

“But that didn’t happen for me.

“I feel like I’ve had to knock on doors and prove to people that I am something different to ‘Ruth on Hollyoaks’ – which was a shame because I loved playing Ruth.

“I was once told by an agent that a major theatre group would never use a soap actor.

“I was told, ‘They won’t touch you because you’ve come from Hollyoaks.’”

And Terri reckons it’s tough for stars from all of the British soaps.

She said: “Unfortunately, being on a soap is never given the respect it deserves. We work really long hours, we work with lots of different directors.

“And we have experience of being able to take direction from lots of different people. But people don’t respect that. There’s an awful lot of snobbery in our business. In America they come off a soap and go into films.

“But it’s not like that here. Soaps aren’t respected by casting directors – I don’t know why.” She added: “I hope the tide is turning a bit. There are a lot of really talented actors that have come out of soaps and gone on to amazing things.

“So when some of them actually break free from the soap noose, they do really well.”

Terri now works as a producer too in a bid to have more control.

Her first project is the film Break, which will be shown at drive-in screenings.

She said: “Since I started to take control of my own destiny and produce work that I’m in, I’m responsible for what’s on screen and the kind of roles that I play.”

You can find out more at breakfilms.co.uk.