See which celebrities made it big after leaving their soaps

From Margot Robbie to Jenna Coleman...

Ben Hardy

The English actor started his career playing in Eastenders for two years, with his first appearance airing in 2013. The star then made his film debut in the superhero film co-starring as an Archangel. More recently, the 28-year-old actor flourished in the role of Roger Taylor, the Queen drummer in the 2018 hit . Following his film he earned a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Emmett J Scanlan

The Irish actor played Brendan in from 2010-2013, one of the most popular characters on the British Channel 4 soap opera. Brendan appeared on our screens as a villain but during his time on the show he became a complex character with a troubled past. Speaking to , upon his departure from the role in 2013, Scanlan explained that his role had been the "greatest honour”. Emmett went on to star in and played the head riot guard in .

Jenna Coleman

Jenna recently starred in the BBC series and flourished in ITV drama as Queen Victoria. However, the English actress started her career playing Jasmine Thomas in where she was nominated for the Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 2006. The huge media presence that Jenna was subject to after her role as a murderous young woman in Emmerdale led her to land a role in which further bolstered her experience, in turn leading to her role as The Doctor's companion in starring alongside Matt Smith.

Joanna Lumley

Joanna Lumley has won two BAFTA TV awards for her role in and a Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards, she has also starred in and Though, Joanna Lumley kickstarted her career appearing on the cobbles in 1973 as Elaine Perkins, Ken Barlow's girlfriend in

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley has an incredible resume of appearing in hugely successful films, from and to . Though as a child actress the star's main role was an appearance in from 1995 as a street-smart thief who was always getting into trouble. She has come a long way since those days, having been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar forand a Best Supporting Oscar for

Liam Hemsworth

The Australian actor, who has stared in and in began his career in 2007 in hit Australian soap Liam played Josh Taylor, an athletic paraplegic who supported a character who became paralysed in one side after a car crash.

Margot Robbie

Margot's award nomination history is impressive, most recently, she was nominated for Supporting Actress in her role as Queen Elizabeth I in at the BAFTAs. The 28-year-old narrowly missed out on an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Performance by an Actress in a leading role for The actress, who also starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in , started her acting career back in 2008, where she was cast as Donna Freedman in hit Australian soap

Martine McCutcheon

The 42-year-old is best known for her role as Natalie in Love Actually, where she starred alongside Hugh Grant, who appeared as the British Prime Minister. This role led the actress to be honored a MTV Movie Award for Best Transatlantic Breakthrough Performer and the title of Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards in 2004. Before her film success, Martine starred for three years as Tiffany Mitchell in , appearing in 364 episodes. Her soap success saw her win the 1997 National Television Award for most popular actress and a TV Quick award for Best Actress. The star also appeared in two episodes of

Nathalie Emmanuel

Nathalie played Sasha Valentine in from 2006 to 2010. After leaving, the British actress made her film debut in the British thriller However, her big break was the following year where she was cast as Missandei, in In 2015, the 29-year-old appeared as Megan Ramsey in and played Harriet in In an interview with Grazia, Nathalie explained the attention was "overwhelming" after first appearing in

Rachel Shenton and Chris Overtom

Rachel Shenton was best known for playing Mitzee Minniver on although she had before starred in small recurring parts in Holby City and Waterloo Road. Despite starring in U.S drama Rachel really hit Hollywood in 2018, where the short film that she wrote and starred in , won an Oscar for live action short film. After the award Rachel spoke to stating: "I remember having this idea (for the film) in my bedroom when I was living in LA", going on to explain how her husband Chris Overton encouraged her to write it down and go from there. The premise of the film follows a deaf four-year-old called Libby who lives in a world of silence until a social worker (played by Rachel) teaches her how to communicate through sign language. Her husband Chris, who also starred in alongside Rachel, directed the film that won at the 90th Academy Awards. Rachel’s acceptance speech went viral after she decided to use sign language in respect for the starring deaf actress Maisie Sly.

Ricky Whittle

The 37-year-old played Calvin Valentine, a police man, in from 2006 until 2010, where he was murdered by Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter). Shortly after his Hollyoaks death, Ricky spoke to explaining that he chose to leave the show in an attempt to become famous in America. In 2014, Ricky joined the post-apocalyptic drama as Lincoln, after starring as a regular in . Ricky had a career breakthrough in 2016 where he was cast as the lead role in , an American fantasy drama television series that is set to return for another series in March 2019.

Robert Kazinsky

Robert played EastEnders Sean Slater for three years where he won a British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2009. In 2012, Robert appeared in before getting a role in the science-fiction monster film as an Australian Jaeger pilot. The soap actor also went on to star in , released in May 2016, and Netflix film . In January 2019, it had been announced that Robert will return to his role in EastEnders as Sean Slater by the end of the year.

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