Life after soap - Craig Fairbrass: ‘EastEnders saved my life’

In 1999 Craig Fairbrass was an instant hit as handsome Dan Sullivan on 'EastEnders'. He was seeing Carol but ended up having an affair with Bianca, a situation which led to both of them leaving the square, albeit temporarily of course. Dan bought Grant Mitchell's share of the Vic for £5 but then fell out with Phil and lost it back to him in a game of poker.

He was then a suspect in the ‘Who Shot Phil?’ storyline and was even framed by Phil after he forgave Lisa, who actually shot him. Found not guilty, he kidnapped Melanie Owen and escaped with the £200,000 ransom from Steve Owen. Dan is now said to be living off his ill-gotten gains in Spain.

Craig, however has gone on to become an action hero in films, computer games and American TV. Here he tells Jon Horsley how  'EastEnders' saved his life and what he’s been up to since leaving Albert Square behind…

[See also: Coronation Street causes storm over child slap scene]

You're just back from filming in Malaysia?
Yes, it's amazing. I'm in a film coming up called 'Viking 3D', which is a dream come true. When I was a kid, I saw Kirk Douglas and people like that in sword-fighting epics and now it's me! And I've only got one day off before I start filming another one. It's crazy at the moment. Loads of things happening. I've got a film called 'St George's Day' coming out soon and there's a press release going out about me in Los Angeles. It's hectic – good times.

So what can you remember about 'EastEnders'?
It seems like a lifetime ago I have to say. It's funny, people still recognise me from it but it's such a long time ago. It's a different planet.

And you don't mind talking about it? Some actors don't like to look back.
Oh, no. 'EastEnders' saved my life. I'll always be grateful for that. It saved me financially when I really needed it. And it was fun - hard work but fun. I'm lucky, too, in that I'm still busy after leaving. I know a lot of people who have left the show haven't managed that. It was tough, I won't lie. I had six months after I

left when I didn't work at all. I really was wondering if I was ever going to do anything. I think I was lucky because I had a body of work behind me before I joined. It can be really tough.

Was there a moment when it all came together after then?
The film ‘Rise Of The Footsoldiers’ changed everything for me, I think. People moved on from Dan then. Also, really I suppose I ended up going to Los Angeles and re-inventing myself - and fortunately it worked.

So what did you learn from the show?
Oh, a lot. They say if you can do ‘EastEnders’, you can do anything. And you really can. You're doing 20 scenes a day, so you've got to be on top of your material. I was in this David Mamet series 'The Unit', and I had a lot of lines and not much time and because that muscle had been exercised in my brain, I could keep on top of it.


Do you still watch it? I don't suppose they had it in Malaysia, did they?
(Laughs) No, I don't have time, really. Hardly have time for any TV, sadly. If it's on I might have a look though.

[See also: 2011's biggest soap exits]

And do you still see anyone from ‘EastEnders’?
Not really. We're bad like that actors. You work together and you're a family and then you move on and you join another family. I saw Sid Owen and Steve McFadden and got a big hug from them not so long ago. Oh, and I bumped into Patsy Palmer again, she was really nice.

And would you ever go back?
Ha! You know what, I remember really distinctly talking to Mike Reid, God rest his soul, about this. He said some characters are worth going back to and you shouldn't rule anything out. There was talk about it actually a few years ago but I was in the middle of filming something. You know, I might though, if they really wanted. Why rule it out?

Thanks very much Craig.
It's been a pleasure.