Hollyoaks 90s sex symbol looks unrecognisable 24 years after steamy affair storyline as she ditches screen roles to run an acting school – can YOU guess who it is?

One of Hollyoaks’ biggest stars from the nineties heyday has become unrecognisable after she gave up her role in the shows to run an acting school.

Natasha Symms, 46, looks a world away from her role as sexy brunette Kate Patrick, as she has transformed her look with a new blonde hairdo.

At the height of her role on the soap, Natasha’s character Kate was involved in a steamy affair with Jeremy Edwards’ Kurt Benson

Natasha, who also appeared in four episodes of Emmerdale, joined the cast of Hollyoaks in 1997 and quickly became known as a ‘maneater’ after her character had a number of sexy flings.

Natasha said at the time that she enjoyed her sexy performance, explaining: ‘I’m a bit of a femme fatale, as they say. I’ve ruined about two marriages, one of which was the main couple on the show.

It’s Natasha Symms, who played the role of brunette siren Kate Patrick on the soap between 1997 and 1999, making her debut just two years after the show hit the screens.

“She’s a brilliant character. Unfortunately, she becomes quite obsessed with the married men and goes a bit crazy.”

One of those affairs ended Kurt’s marriage to his wife Ruth, who was also Kate’s stepsister.

The two were never close and Kate swore revenge when she became part of Ruth’s family. This dramatic story divided the country.

The story was also nominated in the Most Dramatic Storyline category at the Inside Soap Awards.

In a storyline that proved to be even more shocking, Kate was introduced to her twin brother Joe after years of separation, and the two slowly developed romantic feelings for each other.

The siblings kissed and despite his best efforts, Joe couldn’t control his feelings for his sister.

Eventually, in 1999, Kate decided to move out of the village because she was struggling with her brother’s incestuous desires.

Natasha was still a favourite in the men’s magazines during her Hollyoaks era and although she still works in the industry, she now runs an acting school.

At the height of her role on the soap, Natasha’s character Kate was involved in a steamy affair with Jeremy Edwards’ Kurt Benson

Viewers were also shocked when Natasha’s character Kate became involved in an incestuous romance with her brother Joe

Her school is suitable for all ages and in a Facebook post earlier this year she offered first lessons for just £10.

Last week, Hollyoaks began a major change to their programming, cutting from five to just three episodes per week.

The series will see a one-year time jump as 20 cast members are sadly axed due to ongoing budget cuts at Channel 4.

The broadcaster said it was making the change because it was “the optimal pattern to keep home audiences engaged and attract new viewers in a highly saturated content market”, based on data from Channel 4.

They claim that their research shows that most regular soap viewers watch an average of three episodes per week.

Lime Pictures managing directors Kate Little and Claire Poyser said: “Given the success of the new streaming-first model, we’re delighted that Hollyoaks continues to lead Channel 4’s digital-first strategy. We’re bringing authentic, unexpected and untold stories that inspire younger audiences in a way they want to consume.

‘It is clear that this has implications and that we need to rethink the production model for Hollyoaks. Given the good news about the future of the show and its audience, we also need to recognise that reducing the cast and crew will be very difficult. We will support everyone through that process.’

The cuts have forced Channel 4 bosses to make mass layoffs of cast and crew.