Sarah Jayne Dunn, who played Mandy Richardson on Hollyoaks for over two decades, has revealed she was 'shocked and disappointed' to be dropped from the soap after joining the adult subscription site OnlyFans. The actress, 40, began posting images on the platform to regain control over her image after seeing how photographs of her were being used elsewhere without her consent.
Dunn, who first appeared on the show in 1996, said: 'I was shocked and disappointed. I felt like I was being punished for taking control of my own image.' She added that the decision to join OnlyFans was a personal one, allowing her to monetise her content directly.
A Hollyoaks spokesperson said: 'Hollyoaks is a youth-facing drama with many young viewers, who follow our cast very closely, both in the soap and outside of it. We take our responsibility to our young audience very seriously and therefore the show does not allow any Hollyoaks cast members to be active on certain 18+ websites.'
Since leaving the soap, Dunn has reportedly earned £15 million from her OnlyFans account, making her one of the platform's top earners. She now uses the site to share exclusive content with subscribers, including behind-the-scenes photos and personal updates.
The actress has no regrets about her decision, stating that the financial independence and creative freedom have been life-changing. 'I'm happier now than I've ever been,' she told the BBC.
