Dean Gaffney wants play a very different character to Robbie Jackson.
The former ‘EastEnders’ actor – who appeared on the BBC soap on and off from 2003 until his most recent exit last year – would love to take on a grittier role to go against people’s expectations of him as a performer.
He told Heat magazine: "I want to do something different to Robbie, who is very happy-go-lucky and the butt of people’s jokes.
"I’d like to do a gritty drama where I shave my head, or play a crack addict and people go, ‘Wow.’ "
The 42-year-old star left the show in 2019 amid speculation about his behaviour, but Dean revealed he is still on good terms with bosses and a return hasn’t been ruled out.
He added: "I was invited to the 35th anniversary party and there’s no animosity there. You know, a situation arose and they had to deal with it the way they saw fit.
"But the beautiful thing was they said, ‘Please come back to us’. The fact they said that was amazing, because I know it’s not said to everyone.
"It feels like a genuine family who cares and wants the character to come back."
Meanwhile, Dean also played down the idea of chasing Hollywood success as he insisted he’d need something in place to make such a big move at this stage in his career.
He said: "I mean, if you make it in Hollywood, you’re sorted and it’s everyone’s dream, but it’s a very cliched dream and it doesn’t always work out.
"There’d have to be something that took me over there. To up sticks and move to LA at 42? It just isn’t where I’m at right now.
"Being successful for 27 years in the country I was born in is enough for me."
Dean Gaffney wants very different role
