Kacey Ainsworth claims doing 'Strictly Come Dancing' has stalled some of her pals' careers.
Kacey Ainsworth
The former 'EastEnders' star believes the programme and other reality shows leave actors with fewer opportunities within the industry than they create, after "lots" of her friends blamed such series for "flatlining" their workload.
Quizzed on whether she would ever take part in the Latin and ballroom show if offered, she replied: "It's a great programme but it does shut more doors than it opens and it's crazy, because you wouldn't think that, but it does.
"You wouldn't get any roles. You'd get offered the next celebrity show and you'd end up doing 'My Celebrity Dog's Wotsits Are Bigger Than Your Celebrity Dog's Wotsits'. Do you know what I mean? Unless you want to do musicals and stuff and no one's ever seen you do anything like that before and you can sing, then that's great.
"I only say that because I've had lots of friends who've been on it and they've all said to me that doing reality shows, not necessarily just 'Strictly', but doing reality shows has really flatlined their careers."
While Kacey says it "doesn't bother [her]" that she is always branded as an "ex-'EastEnders'" star, she insists former 'Coronation Street' actresses such as Sarah Lancashire and Suranne Jones are not described as "ex-'Corrie'" stars.
Speaking on the Series Linked TV podcast, she said: "It's a funny thing about 'EastEnders', they don't want you to leave there. You can get away with it if you come from 'Corrie'. So Sarah Lancashire, Suranne Jones, they never put ex-'Corrie'.
"But people like myself and Tracy-Ann Oberman who've left 'EastEnders' and created extensive careers outside, we're always with that moniker. But it doesn't bother me that much."
The 50-year-old actress is best known for playing 'Little' Mo Slater on the BBC Soap from 2000 to 2006, for which she scooped a National Television Award and won two British Soap Awards.
She has since appeared in 'Call the Midwife', 'Casualty' and now stars as Cathy Keating in 'Grantchester'.
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