It was her dream job, but after four “incredible” years starring in Our Girl, Michelle Keegan has decided to quit in order to spend more time in the UK and, more importantly, with her husband.
The actress has been married to Mark Wright for nearly five years, but they have spent a lot of time apart due to filming commitments, and now we’re told she feels the time is right to put her home life first.
“Michelle absolutely loved working on Our Girl – it was her first big job after leaving Coronation Street and helped her to prove herself as an actress,” our insider says.
“But filming in places such as South Africa and Malaysia for months at a time was starting to take its toll. She knew she couldn’t do it forever and thought it was the perfect time to quit.
"She wants to be based in the UK, and for her and Mark to spend more time together and enjoy their home, hanging out with friends and family."
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"They eventually want to have children and Michelle knows she couldn’t do that job if pregnant or with young kids.”
The insider adds that Michelle – who will appear in the next series, which has already been filmed – also feels she had to give it up after Mark quit his life in Hollywood to move back to the UK last year.
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The former TOWIE star, 32, had landed himself a presenting job on E! TV’s Extra and was loving life out there. But Michelle, also 32, didn’t want to live out in LA full-time, so Mark came back.
“She knows how much Mark loved his life out in LA and how hard it was for him to give it all up,” our insider continues.
“She feels he made the ultimate sacrifice for them, so she has now returned the favour. It was a tough decision for her to make, but she knows it’s the right one. Mark is so pleased, and Michelle’s excited about their next chapter as a couple.”
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