Hollyoaks EXCLUSIVE: Jazmine Franks admits the 'time was right' to leave the soap as she says goodbye to Esther Bloom after eight years
She's won an army of fans as Esther Bloom.
But Hollyoaks star Jazmine Franks has admitted she felt ready to leave the character behind following the announcement that she has quit the soap after eight years.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline Jazmine, 26, admitted that the time was right for her to depart the soap, especially following the death of her on-screen grandmother Frankie Osbourne (played by Helen Pearson).
Leaving: Hollyoaks star Jazmine Franks has admitted the 'time is right' for her to walk away from her role as Esther Bloom, after announcing she has quit the role
She said: 'I've been there nearly eight years now and the cast have felt like my family. It just felt right.'
While the star kept mum on what fans can expect from Esther's exit, viewers have seen her at odds with grandfather Jack's Osbourne's (Jimmy McKenna) fiancee Darcy Wilde (Aisling Jarrett-Gavin), as she continues to worm her way into the family.
Jazmine added: 'Esther is really upset with Jack, and she’s still upset about her gran leaving. She’s questioning her place in the family.'
Talking about her last day on set Jazmine said: 'It was so sad, I’ve been there so long a lot of the cast I will still stay in touch with. It was weird clocking in for the last time and going into the canteen for the last time.'
Candid: Jazmine, 26, exclusively told MailOnline she would love to delve into theatre after departing the Channel 4 soap, perhaps performing in her local Royal Exchange Theatre
Speaking on what's next for her following her departure from the village, Jazmine added: 'I’ll literally do anything! I’ve never been in this situation, since I actually quit university after landing the role in Hollyoaks. I would like to give theatre a go.'
When asked whether she would tread the boards in a West End, the brunette beauty added: 'I would say more plays, I would love to work with the Royal Exchange Theatre since it's my local.
'I'd like to do something more serious, where I'm not playing the same character every day.'
Jazmine's time in Hollyoaks has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, as character Esther has been at the centre of plenty of hard-hitting storylines.
She's going: Fans will see Esther's exit from Hollyoaks at the end of April, as she continues to be at loggerheads with scheming Darcy Wilde (Aisling Jarrett-Gavin)
But when it came to naming her most memorable storyline, Jazmine added that it was a no-brainer as she recalled the 2013 bullying storyline.
The soap star won acclaim for the plot as Esther was the victim of horrendous bullying, eventually attempting suicide with a bottle of vodka and pills.
Speaking about the plot Jazmine said: 'That was massive for me. It was something I could really get my teeth into, plus hearing people’s experiences with bullying. I had the chance to speak to a couple of girls about it.'
As she waves goodbye to Hollyoaks Jazmine admitted she wouldn't rule out returning to soaps, adding: 'With soapland you know you have a job, whereas with other jobs you can just dot around here and there. I wouldn’t say no.'
Terrified: Esther has been determined to stop Darcy from worming her way into the family, determined that she is up to no good
Following her departure from Chester, Jazmine has been preparing for the British Powerlifting Championships, and she revealed that when it comes to preparing for a contest - keeping fans up-to-date on her blog jazzlifts - she becomes nothing short of a recluse.
'My next competition is next week in Greater Manchester. When I’m running up to a competition I’m so boring. I can’t go out for a meal and say ‘'oh I’ll just have a salad'’ I want to have a three course meal with wine.
'It’s quite disciplined, once I went for a competition and was turned away because I didn’t make the weight. Training for it has switched up my regime, some days I’ll do running, some days I’ll bench press.'
Fans can see Jazmine's final scenes in Hollyoaks on Monday 30th April at 6:30pm on Channel 4.
Going: Jazmine also revealed it was an emotional day on set as she filmed her final scenes, admitting she saw the cast like a family
Dedicated: Jazmine has been working hard ahead of the British Powerlifting Championships, admitting her social life takes a blow when she throws herself into training
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