Stephanie Waring looks relaxed as she’s pictured for the first time since filming her final Hollyoaks scenes after 28 years of playing icon Cindy
Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring looked relaxed on Thursday as she was photographed for the first time after her final day on set, heading to her Manchester gym.
The 46-year-old actress said an emotional goodbye to her role on the soap opera on Wednesday, after playing Cindy Cunningham on the series for 28 years.
She looked cheerful as she headed to her workout, looking relaxed in purple workout leggings and a sports bra.
Stephanie showed off her toned stomach and combined the sportswear with sneakers and a denim jacket.
The soap star looked natural with her hair in a tight bun and smiling as she walked to the gym, a bottle of water in her hand.
Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring looked relaxed on Thursday as she was photographed for the first time after her final day on set, heading to her gym in Manchester
The actress has played Cindy for nearly three decades and her heartfelt message about her time on the long-running show included labeling her alter ego as “worthy” of her tears
It comes just one day after an emotional Stephanie posted a long and touching message on Instagram in tribute to her character, as well as sharing an encouraging text message she received from her fiancé Tom Brookes ahead of her final day on set.
Stephanie is the only original character recently added to the roster of 20 cast members.
In May, it was revealed that Hollyoaks was the latest soap to face severe budget cuts, with bosses at the soap wanting to reduce its workforce by 40 percent.
The actress has played Cindy for nearly thirty years and her heartfelt message about her time on the long-running series included calling her alter ego “worthy” of her tears.
The soap star wrote: ‘I knew today would be tough. Still, I put my feelings about saying goodbye to the life I’ve known for 16 years in a box.
‘I thought, “It’s going to be okay, I’ve been preparing for 3 months.” I can’t wait to start my new life. I woke up to this message from my fiancé.
“It reminded me how strong I am, what I have achieved, that I have created a Hollyoaks icon and that she is worth my tears.”
‘It reminded me that I am loved and that I am so incredibly lucky to have a man who sees me for who I am in my life. Who sees the beauty and the brilliance, the flaws and loves them all anyway.
Stephanie’s Cindy is the only original character included in a recent selection of 20 cast members (right)
In a long and touching post, Stephanie wrote a tribute to her character Cindy
Stephanie was emotional on Wednesday as she said goodbye to the show for good and began her final day on set (pictured in 2022)
Stephanie’s fiancé Tom, who got down on one knee in December 2021 after a year of dating, subsequently praised his partner’s “unwavering dedication, resilience and passion” and assured her that she can look forward to “exciting new adventures ahead” (pictured together in April 2024)
Her fiancé’s message was equally devastating, as he described the day as a “bittersweet moment full of pride and nostalgia”
The soap star wrote: ‘I knew today would be tough. But I’ve put my feelings about saying goodbye to the life I’ve known for 16 years in a box
“Today I say goodbye and I will feel it and cherish all my memories. Cindy, let’s record one last time! #goodbye.”
The message from her fiancé was incredibly sweet. He described it today as a ‘bittersweet moment full of pride and nostalgia’.
Tom, who got down on one knee in December 2021 after a year of dating, praised his partner’s “undying dedication, resilience and passion” and assured her she could look forward to “exciting new adventures ahead”.
This comes after Stephanie broke down in tears earlier this year when she posted a candid Instagram post about her sadness over her impending departure.
In the video, with tears in her eyes, she talks about the toll it has taken on her: ‘Today I had to say goodbye to a number of crew members that I have worked with over the past 16 years.
‘And known for 28 years. And it hit me like a bomb. I’m really going to miss these people.’
She kept insisting that she had to stay positive or she would ‘just go in a different direction’.
Stephane admitted: ‘For me it’s just important to keep showing up with a smile on my face, but I’m going to miss everyone enormously and the moment when I really have to say goodbye is getting closer and closer.’
Her post received a lot of support from her fans, who shared their own stories of losing their jobs and how it can often lead to something better.
It comes after Stephanie broke down in tears earlier this year when she took to Instagram to share another very candid post about her devastation at her impending departure
In the tear-jerking video, she spoke of the toll it has taken on her: ‘Today I had to say goodbye to a number of crew members that I have worked with over the past 16 years.
In an interview with The sun In April, Steph admitted she was in disbelief at the news: ‘After almost three decades, I expected more loyalty.’
The star admitted that while she had a “gut feeling” that she was going to be fired, she had also just signed a one-year contract, thinking she could avoid the recent budget cuts.
She said: ‘During the meeting there was a reading from a script and a tear rolled out of my eye because I could just feel it in the room.
“They came to the end and said, ‘And with that, we lose Cindy from the show.’ I kept saying, ‘I don’t get it.’ I was very upset, I didn’t take it well — I was probably the most dramatic person they told.”
Steph said she burst into tears when she heard the news and is devastated.