Hollyoaks’ Stephanie Waring reveals playing Cindy Cunningham while battling mental health issues ‘saved her life’ as she admits ‘I was so unwell’

Stephanie Waring candidly revealed playing her Hollyoaks’ character Cindy Cunningham while battling mental health issues ‘saved her life at one point’.

The English actress, 47, who starred in the Channel 4 soap from 1996 to 2024, emotionally discussed what was like playing the iconic role for almost three decades.

Chatting to Scott McGlynn on his podcast show, the Crash Palace star said: ‘And stepping into her [Cindy] and embodying her when I was having mental health problems really did help shift my mindset and perspective. 

‘It really, yeah, it really did save, she really did save my life at one point.’

Opening up about slipping into Cindy after giving birth, Stephanie added: ‘I was smacking my head on the kitchen floor because I was like, there’s something wrong with her. I don’t want to be here anymore. I couldn’t. 

Stephanie Waring, 47, candidly revealed playing her Hollyoaks’ character Cindy Cunningham while battling mental health issues ‘saved her life at one point’

The English actress, who starred in the Channel 4 soap from 1996 to 2024, emotionally discussed what was like playing the iconic role for almost three decades.

‘I was so mentally unwell. And by going back to work and stepping into Cindy’s shoes, and this was when Cindy came back as a multimillionaire and she had the short black bob with the fringe. 

‘She had the power clothes and I had to be on. I had to be Cindy. I had to be the boss.’

Stephanie bid farewell to the legendary soap in July of last year, and penned a tear-jerking post on Instagram in tribute to her character at the time.

She is the only original character to be included in a recent cull of 20 cast members. 

It was revealed in May that Hollyoaks had become the latest soap to be hit by stringent budget cuts, with show bosses planning to reduce the workforce by 40 per cent. 

The actress has played Cindy for almost three decades and her heartfelt message about her time on the long-running show included branding her alter ego ‘worthy’ of her tears.

The soap star wrote: ‘I knew today would be hard. However I have been putting my feelings about saying goodbye to the life I have known for 16 years in a box.

‘I thought “I will be fine I have been preparing for 3 months” I can’t wait to start my new life” .. I woke up to this message from my fiancé

Chatting to Scott McGlynn on his podcast show, the Crash Palace star said: ‘Embodying [Cindy] when I was having mental health problems really did help shift my mindset and perspective. She really did save my life at one point’

Speaking about playing Cindy after giving birth, she said: ‘I was so mentally unwell. She had the power clothes and I had to be on. I had to be Cindy. I had to be the boss’

‘It reminded me to feel.. it reminded me of how strong I am, it reminded me of what I have accomplished, it reminded me that I created a Hollyoaks Icon and she is worthy of my tears..

‘It reminded me that I am loved and that I am so unbelievably lucky to have a man who sees me for me in my life. Who sees the beauty and the brilliance, the flaws and loves them anyway.

‘Today I say goodbye and I will feel it and cherish all of my memories. Cindy let’s do one last take! #goodbye.’ 

The message from her fiancé was incredibly sweet, as he described today as a ‘bittersweet moment filled with both pride and nostalgia’.