Stephanie Davis was a fixture in Hollyoaks for five years, as waitress Sinead O’Connor.
But in July, just four months after signing a year-long deal to keep her on the Channel 4 soap, her long relationship with the show came to an end and she was written out with immediate effect.
Rumours of parties and drunken nights have emerged as potential reasons behind her removal, with the star even saying leaving the show was a “huge weight off my shoulders”.
Only now has she revealed the true reasons for her departure to ZOO magazine, she said: “It was ultimately my choice to leave! I just walked and then the producers told me if I didn’t come back they’d have no option but to terminate my contract, but that it was my choice. I regret the way it ended – I probably should’ve gone about it in a better way, but I was desperate for a break.”
“I’ve always had fun and when I started the show I did like to party, but I’m just like any normal 22 year old and I’m sure everyone is the same as they’re growing up – everybody has to be 18 and a little crazy at some point. The drunken thing was there for people to believe if they wanted to but I know people in the industry know me for what I really am.”
Speaking about her photo shoot, she added: “I’ve always wanted to do a few sexy lingerie shoots but being in a soap was busy work so I didn’t have the time. I’m really happy at the moment and I’d love to strip off for you all again!”
Steph’s planning to take her career in a different direction.
“My passion has always been music, so I’ve been working with a few record labels and hopefully I’ll be in the studio soon and then I can look at releasing some tracks in the new year. I’ve written some really good music and the only other person I know to make the jump from soaps is Kylie Minogue – so let’s try to do that!”
The full interview appears in this week’s ZOO, on sale NOW!