Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn has publicly shared her disappointment after failing to secure a spot on this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The former soap icon, who now creates content on OnlyFans, had been actively campaigning for a place on the show for months, posting 16 weeks of Instagram content to 'manifest' her involvement.
Social media announcement
Taking to Instagram with a carousel of images, Dunn wrote: 'Well, this chapter didn't end the way I'd hoped. Of course I'm disappointed. I wanted this more than I can put into words. But if this journey has taught me anything, it's that saying your dreams out loud isn't something to be embarrassed about. It's brave. It's vulnerable.'
She added: 'So no, I won't be stepping onto the dancefloor this year. But I also won't be quietly talking myself out of the possibility that one day I will. Dreams don't always arrive on our timeline. That doesn't mean they're over.'
Return to acting
Dunn, 44, also spoke about her desire to return to acting, four years after her controversial exit from Hollyoaks. She explained that her departure was 'taken out of my hands' after she joined OnlyFans. 'When I joined OnlyFans, it was never my intention to leave the show. That decision was taken out of my hands, and widely publicised,' she said.
She continued: 'I haven't been on screen in over 4 years, but that doesn't mean I stopped wanting it. But now I'm a woman in my mid-40s trying to find my way back. Not because I ever stopped loving it… but because somewhere along the way, life shifted, and my priorities changed, and time just moved on.'
Industry challenges for older actresses
Dunn acknowledged the difficulties of re-entering the industry as an older actress. 'This industry moves fast, and stepping back into it as a woman in her 40s? That takes a different kind of confidence. But maybe it also brings something more… experience, depth and stories that couldn't have been told before,' she wrote.
She concluded: 'If you're casting, creating or reading this… I'm here. And if you've ever felt the pull to return to something you love, go for it.'
