A former soap star, who appeared on, has traded in her acting career for a more ordinary job, citing a desire to no longer be “shipped off all over the country acting”.
Sarah Manners, a Birmingham native, rose to fame with her role as Joanna Helm in the soap Doctors, which she joined in 2000 as one of the original nine regular cast members.
Her portrayal of receptionist Joanna made her a fan favourite, and she was involved in several dramatic storylines during her time on the show. In a 2012 interview, Sarah fondly recalled her time on Doctors, saying: “I got the best storylines in the world in Doctors.”
She highlighted some of the most notable plot twists, including her character’s struggles with addiction and a dramatic exit storyline involving assisted euthanasia.
After leaving Doctors in 2001, Sarah went on to appear in other notable shows, including ‘s Holby City, where she played Bex Reynolds from 2003 to 2005, and ITV’s The Bill, where she played Kirsty Knight in 2010.
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Sarah shot to fame on BBC’s Doctors (Image: Getty Images)
She also showcased her dancing skills on the second series of in 2004, partnering with Brendan Cole and finishing in fifth place, reports, The Mirror.
In a striking career shift back in 2014, Sarah left the acting scene to become a certified Pilates instructor. Reflecting on her transition from the stage to the studio, Sarah revealed: “Being an actress is a tough job and it’s great fun when you’re younger.”
“But if you want to settle down and have a family, it means long stretches away from them, and that wasn’t something I wanted to do,” she explained in a 2022 interview with We Are Tech Women.
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Strictly Come Dancing 2005BBC handout photo of Sarah Manners and Brendan Cole who took part in the first show of the second series of Strictly Come Dancing shown Saturday October 23 2004. PA Photo: Kieron McCarron/BBC Handout (Image: Press Association)
Sarah described her instant fascination with Pilates, emphasizing that she got “hooked” and immediately pursued training to become an instructora passion fuelled by her love for human biology which she nurtured during her school days.
Following the birth of her daughter, Sarah felt compelled to focus on developing her own Pilates method rather than continue with an acting career scattered across the country.
Not only has she successfully carved out a name for herself within the wellness industry, but Sarah also took the plunge into tech by designing and launching her Pilates app, Pilates On Tap, in 2022a year which also saw her honoured as an ‘Inspirational Woman In Tech’ by We Are Tech Women.