ST HELENS' own soap queen Emma Rigby has dropped a bombshell by announcing she is to leave Hollyoaks next summer.

The 19-year-old from Windle, who was recently named best actress at the British Soap Awards, joined the Chester based soap four years ago while still a pupil at De La Salle.

In an exclusive interview with the St Helens Star, Emma said she is leaving the hit Channel 4 show to pursue other acting challenges.

Responding to rumours that she was targeting Hollywood, Emma joked: “It would be great one day, but the only way I will be going to America at the moment is if I go on holiday.”

Emma, who was due to present academic awards at her former school this week, explained: “I have been on the show since I was 15 and have had a fantastic time. I am very grateful for the opportunities and story lines, but I feel the time is right to move on.

“There’s a danger of becoming complacent, which I don’t ever want to be.”

Although she doesn’t have any major roles lined up, Emma admitted that the prospect of leaving her character Hannah Ashworth behind was scary: “There is also a sense of excitement, because I will be able to audition for a number of roles, whether it’s in musical theatre, film or drama. I know it’s a risk, but now it’s up to me to go out there and get different roles.

“I am aware though that there is a lot of competition out there and a lot of talented actors. But my training has been in the work place.

“I love the idea of playing different characters, but part of you thinks can you do it because I have been playing the one part for so long. But I have started with an acting coach and started lessons to prepare me for auditions.”

A determined Emma was also quick to defend soap actors against the criticism levelled at them, saying: “Once you have been in a soap, there is a certain stigma around it, but I don’t understand. No matter what role you do, you are still acting every day.”

She admitted that she doesn’t know whether she will have an explosive exit from the show next June, but was grateful for her experience: “It made me grow up a lot quicker working in that environment.

“I was around adults every day and I learned how to behave within the workplace. I saw how directors work and outside the programme I was given media training and had the chance to do photo shoots.”

Modestly, she said that being recognised as Soap’s best actress has done little to change her outlook: “It was really lovely to win and a nice surprise, but things haven’t changed too much particularly. The storyline was a fantastic opportunity to research and help create a great character.”