Matt Lapinskas, a former EastEnders actor, has had a long and active career as an actor on stage and screen, but like almost every actor, he struggled to find work during the Coronavirus lockdowns.
He then began working as a builder in 2020 and established his own building business, Brightside Builders. He has since reacted angrily to those who have called him a “failed actor” because he took on other profession.
The Sun quoted him as saying, “At the end of the day, when lockdown occurred and I started doing some building work, they sort of like, not that they chastised me, but they were like “failed actor turned builder.” When someone is attempting to make a life, why are you criticising it? But hey, it is what it is!
From 2000 until 2012, Matt portrayed Anthony Moon in EastEnders. The brother of Tyler Moon (Tony Discipline) and Michael (Steve John Shepherd), Anthony was finally forced to leave Walford after losing all of his money and business to Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman) in a poker game.
Matt has participated in Dancing on Ice since leaving Walford, where he placed second in 2013. More recently, he appeared in a special Mallorca episode of Hollyoaks in June of this year, when he played Alex Ramsdan.
We were informed by Matt that he might return as the role. He stated, “I spoke to the producers [about Alex’s future].” It was discussed in the future because it went so well.
Don’t ever say never. I have panto reservations for Christmas and I’m off to audition for other roles in various films. My life goes on, but if Alex were to come back, it would be fantastic — you might see him again, or you might not!
Later this month, Matt’s new comedy Horse Play premieres at the Riverside Studios in London. He has also expressed a desire to begin acting in another major soap opera.
‘My mum would be over the moon if she saw me on Corrie, no pun intended, because she just adores that show. It would be fantastic, and I’d want to be the first because I don’t believe any actors have ever appeared in all four soap operas! Hence, perhaps something to cross off the list.
