Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson has opened up about her decision to leave her role as Maxine Minniver.
The actress shocked fans when she announced she was leaving the Channel 4 soap after 12 years last week.
Nikki has now revealed it was an ‘incredibly difficult’ decision to walk away, but wants to ‘make the most of whatever exciting things might come my way’.
‘Maxine is a huge, huge part of my life – and a part of my life that I’ve loved,’ she said.
‘It’s difficult to think, “It’s time”, and it wasn’t an instant or overnight decision, it took me a long time to make it and it was something I genuinely fought with myself about, but I’m lucky that I could talk to people around me and get people’s opinions.
‘I’m grateful that I’ve had the stability for so long, now I’ve just got to embrace the instability of not knowing what’s next.’
Speaking to OK! Magazine, Nikki said that her recent 40th birthday played a part in her decision.
She said: ‘I know I’m older, and time is going fast, but I want to embrace it and be excited about my forties.
‘I’m more confident and comfortable in myself than I used to be, and I want to make the most of whatever exciting things might come my way.’
Since news of Nikki’s exit was announced, many have speculated if she could return to Coronation Street.
Before arriving in Hollyoaks in 2012, Nikki played Sarah Platt’s (Tina O’Brien) best friend Candice Stowe from 1999 to 2005.
Addressing this possibility, she said: ‘Never say never is my approach.
‘I love Candice and I love Coronation Street, so I’d never close myself to anything if they did want me back in the future, that’s the exciting thing about doing what I do. You just never know what might happen next.’
