Soap operas are often dismissed as lower quality than other TV genres or films, yet big names keep returning. This week, EastEnders fans learned Sean Slater would return long-term, with actor Rob Kazinsky eager to reprise his popular role.
Hollywood success and homecoming
Rob cracked America after his 2009 soap exit, starring in US shows like True Blood and Brothers & Sisters, with movie credits including The Hobbit, Captain Marvel, and Hot Pursuit. He is not alone; co-star Michelle Ryan, who recently returned as Zoe Slater, also landed US roles. Australian star Margot Robbie scored leading Hollywood roles after Neighbours.
Some question why stars go back to the shows they started on. But soaps have delivered some of the strongest, unforgettable scenes of any TV show or film. It is not about lack of roles or needing money, but what soaps offer.
Stability and character depth
Soaps provide stability, regular work, and a long-running character to explore. Even being killed off means nothing, as there is always a way to bring a character back. For many, like Rob, it is like putting on an old pair of shoes again. He said: "I left EastEnders in 2008 as a 23-year-old boy and was lucky to spend the next 19 years of my life working around the world, always championing EastEnders and stating the fact that one day I wanted to walk in Sean’s shoes again."
Stars like Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley have confessed returning to soap allowed them to work closer to home, avoiding travel that keeps them from families.
Training ground and lasting appeal
Soaps are fast-moving shows with long hours, tight schedules, and three to five episodes weekly. Cast spend more time on set than anywhere else, rehearsing and reading multiple scripts daily. These conditions make soaps a perfect training ground for other genres.
Michelle Keegan credited her Corrie days for her success, calling it her "training ground" for roles in Our Girl, Brassic, and Netflix's Fool Me Once. EastEnders' Ben Hardy says the BBC soap was a great place to learn screen craft. Himesh Patel called for TV and film companies to watch for rising talent from soaps.
Legendary actors like Adam Woodyatt, Steve McFadden, William Roache, and Barbara Knox have stayed for decades, earning iconic status with well-paid, consistent work. Soaps have secured huge talent, including Emmerdale's Chris Coghill and EastEnders' Colin Salmon, who appeared in James Bond films, Resident Evil, and Alien vs Predator. Joining this week is Jamie Bamber from Battlestar Galactica and Beyond Paradise.
Returning and new cast often speak of the cast and crew "becoming family," learning on the job, and noticing fan investment like no other. They reflect real life with topical storylines, and it is this varied work and all the bonuses that keep stars coming back and sticking around long-term.
