Former EastEnders star Matthew James Morrison has candidly admitted he has no work lined up a year after leaving the BBC soap. The actor played Felix Baker for three years and made history during his time in Walford as the man behind Tara Misu, EastEnders' first regular drag queen character.
Uncertain Future After Departure
Matthew left Albert Square in 2025 after soap bosses decided to write Felix out of the show. While he has landed theatre roles since his departure, he now finds himself facing an uncertain future.
Speaking on the Missleighdingfortunes podcast, hosted by drag performer Miss Leigh Ding, Matthew opened up about his career while having a tarot card reading.
Reflecting on Life After EastEnders
Reflecting on leaving EastEnders, he said: "I finished EastEnders and I thought you know, maybe something will come, maybe something might not come."
"For a lot of people who’ve left the show since I started, some of them have worked, some of them haven’t worked."
Matthew initially kept busy after leaving Walford, landing a theatre role in Greenwich, south east London, before heading into another stage production. However, after recently finishing a tour, the actor admitted he is now without another job to move on to.
Feeling Like in a Desert
He said: "This is the first time since really leaving EastEnders – I finished the tour over a week ago – and I don’t have anything lined up."
"It feels like I am stood in the desert just being like what do I do next?"
Matthew then pondered what his next move could be, suggesting he could use the downtime to develop new skills, including learning to ride a horse or mastering another accent.
Bosses' Decision to Write Out Felix
His admission comes around a year after it emerged that bosses had decided to call time on Felix's stint in Walford. At the time, a source said: "It’s never an easy decision for bosses when they have to make the decision for a character to leave."
"Matthew has been great, but bosses felt the time was right to say goodbye to Felix."
Character's Journey and Impact
Matthew joined EastEnders as part of the Baker family, alongside Felix's father Avery and brother Finlay. Avery died shortly after the family's arrival in Walford, while Finlay, played by Ashley Byam, later departed the soap too.
Felix went on to become a familiar face behind the bar at The Albert, but his role became less prominent before his eventual departure. His character also broke new ground for the long-running BBC soap through his drag alter ego, Tara Misu.
Speaking about the role after joining the soap, Matthew said: "I am blessed to have the opportunity to step into the heels of the fierce Tara Misu as part of my role on EastEnders."
"It’s a privilege to represent the LGBTQIA+ community and to showcase the creative art of drag to both viewers at home and the residents of Walford."
