James Sutton, a 43-year-old actor who portrayed John Paul McQueen on the UK soap opera Hollyoaks for two decades, has announced a significant career shift, "shutting the door" on acting to focus on his OnlyFans platform. Sutton, who departed the Channel 4 show in February, launched his OnlyFans page two months later.
In a recent interview, Sutton explained that he had "emotionally checked out" from acting prior to his departure from Hollyoaks, citing a desire for greater control over his career. "Right now, I'm not looking for acting work. I've kind of shut that door," he stated. "I'm really enjoying having autonomy over everything that I'm doing. I'm really enjoying being in control of what I'm doing, you know, running my own website, and writing and speaking, and sharing my thoughts and being of service."
He added that the intermittent nature of acting work, particularly for a 43-year-old man, was not something that interested him. Sutton expressed respect for actors who maintain resilience through periods of unemployment but sought a change.
Sutton's use of OnlyFans diverges from common perceptions of the platform. Instead of focusing solely on adult content, he utilizes it to promote discussions on mental health, life goals, and body positivity. He has also undertaken an overhaul of his diet and exercise regimen, training five days a week.
"I never had much body confidence on Hollyoaks, which is kind of a sexy show," Sutton revealed. "I never felt like a sexy kind of character or performer, so I wouldn't do scenes with my top off or anything like that. So, yeah, OnlyFans has been a really, really lovely experience. It's made me feel really confident in the way that I look. It's nice to feel sexy, you know, for the first time, and you know, at 43 years of age, it's nice to have a place where I can be a bit sexy."
He described engaging in "interesting conversations with men" on the platform, sharing a "sexier side" and aspects of his life and journey. Sutton feels a sense of fulfillment and encourages others to find passions that excite them.
Beyond his personal content, Sutton has collaborated with former Hollyoaks co-star Sarah Jayne Dunn on OFTV, OnlyFans' free-to-view platform, for a competition series titled "Race of Wits." The eight-episode series features teams of two OnlyFans creators undertaking London-based challenges. Sutton noted his positive chemistry with Dunn and expressed a desire to work with her again. The first episode of "Race of Wits" is available on OFTV, with Sutton and Dunn's episode scheduled for release on September 1.