Yahoo News EastEnders star shares real-life changes after Ben Mitchell exit
Former EastEnders star Max Bowden has detailed the changes in his life following his departure from the soap.
The actor left the BBC show last year following five years in the role of Ben Mitchell, with the character’s exit coming after he was extradited to the US for credit card fraud.
Just over nine months from his departure, Bowden - who was promoting his upcoming role in Birdsong - spoke with A Youngish Perspective about his experience on the show, sharing that his life has now changed after his priorities shifted.
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“My life has changed a lot recently, I don’t party anymore, I’m just interested in being a better dad, and a better person overall,” he said, before detailing his experience on the set of the BBC show.
“EastEnders is one of the hardest gigs, if not the hardest gig, in acting, because a lot of the time you have to strip away your technique and rely on impulse. I carry quite a lot of ‘the method’ in my approach to my acting, and it’s easy to get a bit lost in the work as a result.
“It’s shaped me in that I no longer approach anything with fear. It’s a brilliant place to hone your skills, so I’m very grateful for my time there,” he added.
Whilst Bowden’s time on EastEnders may have ended, his stage role in Birdsong - which is based on Sebastian Faulks’s 1993 novel - marks a new chapter in his career, with the actor detailing the latest production of the book.
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“Thematically, it’s as pertinent as it has ever been,” he explained. “Sadly, we are living in a more divided society, in a world in conflict. The story contains all of the beauty and the cruelty of mankind.
“It cleverly emulates the way that war is so harsh on the senses. The creative and technical team have created a brilliant design and soundscape that really takes you into the Western Front, while also juxtaposing it with the softness and beauty of what came before.”
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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