Anthony Quinlan, best known as Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks and Pete Barton in Emmerdale, spoke exclusively to WhichBingo, home of the best bingo sites.
With a new baby having just arrived, a BBC role just landed, and a supplement business going through a major rebrand, Anthony opened up about life after long-running soaps, why he said no to Big Brother, and how he finally stopped calling himself a Z-list actor.
Leaving a Soap Is a Shock to the System
Anthony has experienced first-hand what happens when you walk away from the stability of a long-running soap, twice. His advice to those following in his footsteps is frank and practical.
“When you’ve been in a long-standing show you have a degree of stability that you don’t really get from any other acting job. Very few actors can make a truly sustainable living from it, leaving a soap can be quite a shock to the system.”
He is also quick to defend the craft itself, and has little patience for the stigma that still surrounds soap acting.
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For those just starting out, his message is clear:
“Never stop learning. As soon as you think you’re the complete package, it’s game over. You’ve got to apply yourself and be versatile. Also, and this sounds obvious, save your money. That stability doesn’t last forever.”
On His Return to Soaps: Coronation Street
With Hollyoaks and Emmerdale already on his CV, Anthony is well placed to comment on the other two of the big four. His answer on Coronation Street in particular will give fans something to think about.
“Never say never. I grew up watching Coronation Street, and EastEnders is a phenomenal show as well. . I always said I’d love to do Coronation Street one day. Growing up watching it with my family, being from Manchester, it was a given. My partner was in it as well. So yeah, if the right role came about, who knows?”
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Big Brother, I’m a Celebrity, and Why He’s Never Quite Said Yes
Anthony has had more near-misses with reality TV than most people realise and is unusually candid about all of them.
“I’ll be honest, I have been asked. I got offered Big Brother between Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, a substantial amount of money, and I was considering it, but it wasn’t something I wanted to do for the right reasons. I also auditioned for I’m a Celebrity twice and it never went my way either time.”
He admires those who do take the plunge but knows himself well enough to know it’s not quite right for him. Something more physically demanding is a different matter entirely.
“For anyone who does reality TV, I think it’s incredible and really brave. I just don’t know if I’d ever be fully myself in that environment, because I am quite a private person. Something more physical would appeal to me more like SAS: Who Dares Wins, or something like The Games on ITV where it’s proper athletic challenges. That would stimulate me a lot more.”
CrossFit, Women’s Aid, and the Business He Finally Stopped Hiding From
Away from acting, Anthony has built a serious second career in fitness. He became a personal trainer at 18, went on to complete CrossFit Level 1 and 2 qualifications, and during lockdown channelled his training into something bigger than himself.
“Through lockdown, I became very aware of the prevalence of domestic abuse and the impact it was having. So I teamed up with Women’s Aid and did 100 consecutive days of workouts, documenting every session at 11am on Instagram, free for people to join. It was a great way for me to stay fit while doing a bit of good.”
From that came his online PT platform, and in the background all along was BoxedOff, his supplement business. For years, though, he held himself back from fully backing it. The reason, when he names it, is striking.
“I didn’t always attach myself to it publicly, something I’ve stopped doing recently. I think the industry humbled me in ways that weren’t always healthy. I used to say to myself: “why would people buy into a company that a Z-list actor is promoting?” I actually used those words about myself. Which is ridiculous, because I’d put huge amounts of time, effort and research into it. I had a great team, I knew my stuff. But that imposter syndrome was massive.”
That is changing. A full rebrand is underway, new products are in development, and Anthony is putting himself front and centre this time.
“I kind of self-sabotaged for years. That’s something I’m addressing now, I’m going to be at the forefront of it. Because what I’ve learned over the years is that no one cares about your business as much as you do. We’ve got the product in some amazing places, some phenomenal wellness outlets. It’s doing well as it is, and I don’t want to give my baby away.”
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