Laurie Brett says 'EastEnders' is the "hardest gig on TV" and she has "no plans" to return to the show.
Laurie Brett
The 50-year-old actress played Jane Beale on the BBC One soap on and off from 2004 to 2017, and while she had a "brilliant time" on Albert Square, she found the filming schedule "relentless".
She said: "It's the hardest gig on telly.
"It's just relentless and I couldn't believe just how knackered I was when I left.
"It's all-consuming and the thing is that when you're in that bubble you don't even realise how all-consuming it is.
"But you know what happened? I left there, I had a rest, I fell in love, I got married, I had a life!
"I had the most brilliant time there and I have friends there but I've got no plans to go back."
The former 'Waterloo Road' star - who has eight-year-old daughter Erin - married Dennis Longman last year, and she is enjoying exploring other acting opportunities for now.
She added to the Sunday People newspaper: "The door's open and it's a never-say-never scenario but I'm just really enjoying exploring other stuff at the moment.
"I'll always be Jane Beale for a lot of people."
Laurie recently admitted EastEnders' 30th anniversary special episodes "aged her 10 years", but she loved being a part of the milestone episodes in February 2015.
She wrote on Twitter: "What an incredible week of telly.. aged me 10 years but great to be part of it X (sic)"
Tagged in Laurie Brett