Former EastEnders star Himesh Patel has candidly shared how his struggle with acne made his time on the show feel like “the worst thing in the world.”
Himesh, who portrayed the beloved character Tamwar Masood from 2007 to 2016, has since transitioned into a successful film career. In an interview with GQ, he reflected on the challenges he faced as a teenager dealing with acne while appearing on screen for millions of viewers.
He stated, “I’ve been doing this since I was 16. When you’re a teenager with acne, it’s already tough… but having it broadcast to millions of people every week in EastEnders is a whole different level.”
Himesh admitted, “It was rough. You feel defective because you’re surrounded by other actors. Everyone gets spots, but I felt that pressure. So, I try to do better now.”
His character, Tamwar, ultimately left Walford to travel with his girlfriend Nancy Carter (played by Maddy Hill). The couple got engaged and married off-screen in 2019, later settling in New Zealand. However, Nancy returned to Walford alone in 2021 after their split.
Since departing EastEnders, Himesh has made a successful leap to the big screen, landing a lead role in Danny Boyle’s Beatles-inspired musical, Yesterday. He has also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, shared the screen with Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in Don’t Look Up, and starred in Dan Levy’s directorial debut, Good Grief. Additionally, he played a lead role as Jeevan Chaudhary in HBO’s flu pandemic drama Station Eleven.
Earlier this year, Himesh discussed his decision to leave EastEnders in an interview with The Independent. He remarked, “I didn’t leave EastEnders with any specific intention to reach a certain level. I just hoped to have a career that allowed me to move from one interesting project to the next, without nine years on EastEnders being seen as a drawback.”
He acknowledged the existing perceptions of soap actors, particularly those who remain in one role for an extended period, and admitted that he didn’t have particularly high expectations.
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