Former Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jayne Dunn says she feels sexier than ever as she addresses early fame, her thriving OnlyFans career, and her shock exit from the Channel 4 soap. The Manchester-born star is currently flying the flag for lingerie brand Raine & Bea’s ‘Theatrical flair for everyday wear’ campaign, and at 41, is determined not to let age or what she calls “social conditioning” stand in the way of her stripping off.

“I feel so much more comfortable and confident in my body today,” she exclusively tells OK!. “I don’t feel like I’m trying to tick any box of what I want my body to be, I just want to be strong and healthy and have longevity. I want to get older to still be fit and strong. I want to be able to play with my son, to continue to go to the gym, that’s what’s important.” Here, she opens up exclusively to OK! on motherhood with eight-year-old Stanley, being in control of her OnlyFans content, and her new job – as a pole instructor…

Ex Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn says she feels sexier than ever as she updates on her OnlyFans success (Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery)

Speaking about the new lingerie campaign, Sarah said: “It’s such an honour to be ambassador for the new Raine and Bea collection. I’ve been a fan of Jenna’s work for years now and always love wearing her pieces, I’m so excited that she’s bringing her work to the masses with her diffusion line and the collection is stunning. I felt a million dollars wearing one of her new designs on launch night. I can’t wait to wear more of the collection soon!”

You look incredible in the new Raine & Bea lingerie range. Where do you find your confidence?

When it comes to lingerie, I choose what to wear depending on how I want to feel, as opposed to what I want someone else to get out of it. It’s nice to get to our 40s and maybe be mums and wives but also feel sexy, because we get to that stage where we’re told we shouldn’t be sexual any more. It’s nice to give a finger to that and go, “Sod what you think, because I feel confident and empowered!.”

Have you always felt that way?

The older I’ve got, the more confident I’ve become in my own skin. I started on screen when I was 14. I was still finding myself and my body was still changing. My body was being scrutinised and as I got older I did jobs where it was edited without my permission. My boobs were made bigger and my tummy was made flawless. And all the natural things – imperfections is the wrong word, because they’re not imperfections – were removed. So I grew up not knowing what my body should or did look like. I’d see a picture of it in a lads’ mag, then look at it in the mirror, and it was different.

Sarah opened up about her ‘shock exit’ from Hollyoaks and admits the decision was “taken out of her hands” after she joined OnlyFans (Image: LIME PICTURES)

That must’ve been hard to cope with…

I’m really lucky that I’ve got a supportive family and I’ve got my head screwed on, otherwise I might’ve been more affected. As I’ve gotten older, from my 30s onwards, I’ve put in work for many different reasons with therapy and coaching, which I recommend to anyone. It’s so important to work through anything that anyone’s been through.

Have you ever been criticised for being “too sexy”?

I remember going to an event once in a mini skirt and crop top, feeling super confident. The next day I overheard a girl that I knew say “Any woman over 30 shouldn’t wear a skirt over their knees”. I thought, “Wow”, and found it really sad because I could see that’s how she’d been conditioned and she was projecting her insecurities onto me. I don’t want younger women to feel that way.

You’ve been doing OnlyFans for over three years now. Are you enjoying it?

It’s great! I’ve got a lovely following and I create content that I was creating anyway but I do it now on my terms and it really works for me. I won’t do it forever, but it’s given me a really comfortable life and I enjoy it, so I don’t see myself stopping it any time soon.

Sarah says she has a “lovely following” on OnlyFans and admits that it’s given her a really comfortable life(Image: Instagram)

You’ve hanged the narrative around it a bit, would you agree?

I think so. The reason why I spoke out about being on the platform so much was because I want to change the narrative. Some are stuck in the idea that it’s only one thing, and it’s not. Yes there’s explicit content, but that’s why it’s strictly for over-18s, and it’s not what I do.

It must be good to feel in control of what you’re putting out there…

Yes, and one of the reasons I’ve become a “voice”, is because I put my foot down against being sexualised and monetised by others and not benefiting at all, saying “this isn’t okay any more”. I think that resonated with a lot of people. I used to be a bit of a people pleaser, and I think a lot of us feel like that, so it’s nice to see somebody set boundaries, take control and succeed. I’ve had lots of support, particularly from women.

Sarah also shared an update on her love for pole as she revealed she’s started teaching classes(Image: Instagram)

You’re also incredible on the pole aren’t you?!

Well I’m lucky that I’ve found a hobby that’s also a sport that I really enjoy. It’s a sort of gymnastics exercise because of the flexibility and strength, and there’s an element of dance, too. I love it! I’m so inspired by the women that go to my classes who are in their 60s. I just think, “Wow, I want to be you!”. I’ve also just started teaching classes which is amazing.

Would you like to go back to acting?

I never really left, it was sort of misconstrued. When I joined OnlyFans, it was never my intention to leave the show [Hollyoaks]. That decision was taken out of my hands, and widely publicised. When you’re an actor, you don’t ever “leave”, you’re in-between jobs. I’ve auditioned for other stuff, and if the right job came along and it fitted into my life and schedule, then I’d do it.

Do you ever miss life on set?

I’ve been acting since I was a teen, so there’s always going to be part of me that misses it. But I’ve got a lovely life now, loads of free time and I love being my own boss. One thing I do miss is the banter and the camaraderie of being with people and creating something together. But a lot of jobs involve working away from home, and I don’t want to do that for long periods because of my son.