Sam Frost has spoken candidly about her decision to quit Channel Seven soap Home and Away last month.
The 32-year-old, who joined the cast as Jasmine Delaney in 2017, reflected on her departure from the coveted gig in a lengthy Instagram post on Friday.
‘I quit my dream job at Home And Away to look after my mental health,’ Sam wrote on mental health awareness Instagram page, Believe by Sam Frost.
Breaking her silence: Sam Frost, 32, (pictured) penned a heartfelt Instagram post on Friday discussing her decision to quit Channel Nine soap Home And Away last month, writing: ‘I quit my dream job at Home And Away to look after my mental health’
‘I needed to take a step back, go home and be with my family. And most importantly take good care of my health and wellbeing.
‘I now spend the days with the people I love, doing the things I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t because I was too busy working.’
Sam went on to list the sacrifices she had to make while keeping up with her busy Home and Away filming schedule.
‘I spent 4.5 years being a distant friend, a distant girlfriend, a sister who couldn’t be there for big milestone moments,’ she admitted.
Healing: Sam, who joined the cast as Jasmine Delaney in 2017, explained that she needed to ‘take a step back’ from her soap acting career for the sake of healing her ‘mind, body and soul’
‘I spent 4.5 years being a distant friend, a distant girlfriend, a sister who couldn’t be there for big milestone moment’: Sam went on to list the sacrifices she had to make while keeping up with her busy Home And Away filming schedule. Sam is pictured on Home And Away
‘Now, I’m making up for lost time. I’m prioritising my health and my relationships.’
Sam also admitted she’s felt anxious about her finances after quitting the lucrative role, writing: ‘Sometimes I wake up and panic about money, work and being able to afford my mortgage.
‘But then I remind myself the importance of putting our mental health first, and taking time out to heal our mind, body & soul. The rest will fall into place.’
Panic: Sam also admitted she’s felt anxious about her finances after quitting the lucrative role, writing: ‘Sometimes I wake up and panic about money, work and being able to afford my mortgage’
The former Bachelorette filmed her final scenes for Home and Away last month at Sydney’s Eveleigh Studios.
The actress has since move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family.
Sam, who started her media career as a contestant on The Bachelor, scored her first acting gig in 2017 when she joined the cast of Home and Away.
Gear shift: Sam, a former Bachelor contestant and Bachelorette star, scored her first acting gig in 2017 when she joined the cast of Home and Away. Pictured on The Bachelor in 2014
At the time, some industry figures called the decision to hire the reality star ‘disappointing’ and a ‘publicity stunt’.
One actor said the decision to hire an ‘unqualified’ TV personality was ‘an insult to trained actors’, adding that she’d ‘stolen [the role] from those who attended NIDA’.
Acting coach Brendan Glanville, who trained Summer Bay alumnus Charles Cottier, told the Courier-Mail the long-running soap had ‘jumped the shark’.
Ruffling feathers: At the time, some industry figures called the decision to hire the reality star ‘disappointing’ and a ‘publicity stunt’
Mr Glanville, the artistic director of Australian Acting Academy, said: ‘It demonstrates that Home and Away has lost faith in its writers if directors are resorting to this kind of stunt, rather than using their story lines to pull viewers.’
While acknowledging Sam may have a ‘natural ability’, he added: ‘This is what’s known as ‘jumping the shark’ – in other words attempting to create publicity for something that is perceived as not warranting the attention, especially something that is believed to be past its peak.’
Paul O’Brien, who played Jack Holden on Home And Away from 2005 to 2008 and is now an acting coach, was less critical but agreed Sam had landed the role ‘because she’s a personality’ and not necessarily because of her acting talent.
‘Sam’s audition blew us away’: In a statement at the time, Channel Seven defended casting Sam in a recurring role despite her lack of acting credentials
In a statement at the time, Channel Seven defended casting Sam in a recurring role despite her lack of acting credentials.
‘Sam’s audition blew us away,’ said the spokesperson.
‘In joining the cast of Home and Away, Sam will be in great company and is about to enjoy a wonderful phase of her career.’
If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue.
Career: ‘In joining the cast of Home and Away, Sam will be in great company and is about to enjoy a wonderful phase of her career,’ the Channel Seven spokesperson said
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