Actress Emma Rigby swaps Hollyoaks for Hollywood after Brit TV chiefs shun her over soap past

ACTRESS Emma Rigby has revealed how she swapped Hollyoaks for Hollywood after stuck-up TV bosses shunned her over her soap past.

The blonde, 27, who starred in the soap for five years, told how she struggled to make it through the door of auditions after she quit in 2010.

But she has had the last laugh, after a series of top US roles saw her become the toast of LA.

Among her famous pals, she now counts legend Sir Ben Kingsley and James Franco.

And as she prepares to star as the sexy leading lady of new flick American Violence, she told how success has transformed her life for good.

She told The Sun on Sunday: “When I left Hollyoaks I could barely get any interviews for months. Casting directors wouldn’t let me in the door.

“They would just see ‘Hollyoaks’ and say no.

“So when I came to America, it was incredibly liberating to be given the chance to prove what I could do, and that I could transform for roles."

“Now I often have to pinch myself when I think about the things I’m doing.

“I’ve become good friends with Ben Kingsley, and when we went for dinner the other day he dropped into his character from Sexy Beast.

“He was also telling me stories about Martin Scorcese, who is my favourite director ever, and I was sitting there thinking: ‘I can’t believe this.’"

“James Franco is a really great guy too. I’ve met some amazing guys in LA, but things have never worked out because of things like schedules.

“I have definitely had to sacrifice relationships – and some friendships – for my career.

“But I am ambitious, and I do I want to put my career first at the moment. Maybe when I’m a bit further along I’ll settle down and have kids.

“But I think I want to play a Bond Girl first.”

Emma, who also starred in BBC hit Prisoners’ Wives, made the decision to move Stateside in 2012.

And while she admits to feeling “alien” in the US at first, the gamble quickly paid off.

She immediately landed a lead role opposite Sir Ben in movie The Physician, which saw the unlikely pair become pals in between filming scenes.

And a part as the Red Queen in fantasy TV drama Once Upon A Time in Wonderland followed.

She said: “Moving to the US was really daunting. I was terrified, and felt very alone, very alien.

“I remember that even things like having to drive everywhere seemed strange. Luckily, it wasn’t long before I was offered some really great parts.

“I had to go to Vancouver to film the Red Queen, and when I got back to LA afterwards living there – even by myself – felt a bit more natural.

“It was isolated at times, and I did miss my mum. But I was happy to be focusing on my work, because that was what I moved to America to do.

“I was finally getting a chance to play characters that weren’t just stereotypes.”

Emma’s latest role sees her take on seductress Olivia in crime drama film American Violence, which also stars Bruce Dern and Denise Richards.

And she told how she loved taking on the “strutting, sexy” role.

She said: “The thing about Olivia is that she is incredibly sexy and feisty, she is a really confident character who struts and prowls about.

“It was incredible to be given the part, because usually casting directors think I look too young."

“And it was a real challenge, because at first I did feel self-conscious walking around like that. Usually I’m goofing about at home in my onesie.

“But eventually I got used to it, even the sex scenes.”

She went on: “The sex scenes actually weren’t too raunchy for American Violence. There was no nudity, so they couldn’t be that explicit.

“I absolutely wouldn’t mind at all doing nudity in future though, as long as it’s in the right context.

“If it’s the right part and the right script, there’s nothing I won’t do.”

Emma, from St Helens, has recently moved back to the UK to star in an upcoming BBC drama.

And she admitted she would also love to land a part in Julian Fellowes’ prequel of ITV hit Downton Abbey which is now believed to be on the cards.

But she said she still has a lot of plans for success on the other side of the pond.

She said: “Downton Abbey the prequel is absolutely a dream role for me. That would be amazing.

“But I would also love a role like Natalie Portman’s in Black Swan. And I would love to be a Bond Girl, that’s definitely one of my goals in life.

"I still have such a lot that I want to achieve."