In the world of soap operas, characters come and go, leaving lasting impressions on viewers.
One such Hollyoaks character was Lily Drinkwell, portrayed by the talented Lauren McQueen, and her character's tragic exit in April 2019 due to sepsis left fans in tears. Lily's story was marked by her arrival in the village in 2017, following her mother's passing, and her subsequent struggles with self-harm.
But what has the star been up to since her unforgettable exit from Hollyoaks? From glamorous trips abroad with pals, sexy bikini snaps and exciting new TV roles, it's not too bad.
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Daily Star has taken a closer look at the star’s life since leaving the Channel 4 soap.
Sad soap exit
The beloved character portrayed by Lauren McQueen met a tragic end in April 2019 due to sepsis. Lily arrived in the village in 2017 after her mother's death, staying with her aunt Diane and Tony before moving in with her husband, Prince McQueen.
Throughout the series, Lily's struggle with self-harm was a central storyline. In 2019, Lily relapsed into self-harm due to guilt over an affair with Romeo Quinn, despite her marriage to Prince McQueen.
She was admitted to a mental health facility but left against medical advice when Romeo revealed he was a suspect in a murder case. Her final episode featured flashbacks of her late mother and real-time moments with Romeo.
In a sudden twist, Lily decided to stay in Hollyoaks but collapsed in the restroom shortly after. Despite efforts to save her, it was too late. The storyline received recognition at the British Soap Awards in 2018.
Actress Lauren McQueen expressed her gratitude for the role, hoping it raised awareness about the seriousness of self-harm and its life-threatening consequences. She said of her exit: "I was honoured to be given such a huge story that carried a lot of responsibility.
"Even though it was challenging and emotional I really hope I did it justice and hope it raises a lot of awareness to the audience.” She added: “I hope the storyline makes the audience aware of how serious self-harm is, and that the consequences can be life threatening.”
New TV Roles
Prior to her stint on the Channel 4 soap opera, Lauren attended Allstars Casting drama school and took on the roles of Yasmin Goody in the BBC One miniseries, Good Cop, and Rachel in CBBC's 4 O'Clock Club. Following her departure from Hollyoaks, Lauren ventured into filming the second series of Sky One's drama Bulletproof alongside Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters.
During this period, she shared with the Radio Times: "It's been a fantastic experience to dive right into a new project after my time on Hollyoaks." But she's a woman of many talents.
Based on her Instagram posts, it's clear that Lauren has a passion for singing. She frequently shares impressive videos featuring her favourite cover songs.
Glam snaps
The star is clearly living the high life since exiting the soap as she is seen enjoying various sunny getaway and glam night’s out with pals in Instagram. In one snap, the stunning star, 27, can be seen posing on a boat in Greece in a tiny bikini, leaving fans swooning at her enviable curves.
“Damn you’re beautiful,” gushed one fan. “OMG STUNNING!” penned another. A second picture shows her posing for a selfie in a different bikini as she shares a series of glam snaps form a night out with pals.
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“Too grateful for my chicas,” she gushed in the caption. She showed off her style in a beighe tassled sun-hat with a choker necklace as she shot a pout at the camera. The star was clearly having the time of her life as she posed Infront of a gorgeous blue pool backdrop with pals as they enjoyed the party.
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