CLASS ACT Soap star reveals she secretly took a normal job as a school teaching assistant after leaving show

A BIG name soap star swapped scripts for the classroom after stepping away from the spotlight.

The TV favourite says how she took on a “normal” job in a primary school following her soap exit.

Nadine Mulkerrin, best known for playing Cleo McQueen in Hollyoaks, opened up about the move during an Instagram Q&A.

The 32-year-old admitted she took a break from acting and worked as a teaching assistant.

While she didn’t go into detail about the role, the average teaching assistant salary in the UK sits at around £19,000 to £21,000 a year.

She said: “I feel so bloody grateful to have a job full stop. I get to live out my childhood dream every day. I basically get paid to play pretend and have a laugh with my mates.”

“I’m so lucky that I have managed to work consistently as an actor since I was 13.

“When I left the show in 2021 I went and got a ‘normal’ job TAing in a primary school.”

After exiting Hollyoaks last year after nine years on the show, the actress is yet to reveal her next TV move.

Nadine, who played Cleo for almost a decade, chose not to return following her maternity leave.

Her character bowed out by heading to India for a new life, leaving the door open for a possible comeback.

However, for now Nadine is now focusing on life as a mum to two young sons with fellow Hollyoaks actor Rory Douglas-Speed.

The couple recently returned from a break to the Spanish resort of Estepona, where Nadine said they had been “making core memories”.