Lyndon Ogbourne has revealed that he was working as a male nanny when he was offered the role of Nathan Wylde in Emmerdale.
The 27-year-old told The Mirror that he had struggled to afford London life while living as a struggling actor.
"It was a really bleak time," he said. "It was a tough time in my life but what I've been through has only made me stronger and more determined to achieve everything I want for my future.
"I was working so hard for very little reward but those times have helped to shape me into the person I am today."
Ogbourne revealed that he had been caring for a young boy when he joined the ITV soap's cast last year.
"I was looking after this little boy when I got the call," he said. "We'd just come back from swimming and we were both jumping around with excitement. He was 8 and I'd taken him to filming jobs with me in the summer holidays, so he knew how much it meant to me.
"I'd had enough of bar work and I wanted to start doing something that made me feel worthwhile."
The actor added: "There was a boom in male nannies at the time. A lot of families with boys wanted a more active nanny and I loved it. I was at a low ebb with work and the break-up of a long-term relationship and it was a solace for me."