Home and Away star Sam Frost has spoken out about the reasons why she quit the soap at the end of last year, explaining that she took the decision in order to look after her own health.
It was confirmed in December that Sam would be leaving her role as Jasmine Delaney after four years playing her, shortly after it was announced that she would be taking a temporary break in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
The actress has now shared an update on her Believe by Sam Frost Instagram account, in which she explained that she left her "dream job" on Home and Away in order to look after her health and to spend more time with her loved ones.
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"I quit my dream job at Home & Away to look after my mental health. I needed to take a step back, go home and be with my family. And most importantly take good care of my health and well-being," she said.
"I now spend the days with the people I love, doing the things I've always wanted to do but couldn't because I was too busy working. I spent 4.5 years being a distant friend, a distant girlfriend, a sister who couldn't be there for big milestone moments.
"Now, I'm making up for lost time. I'm prioritising my health and my relationships."
Sam added that she sometimes has worries about money and work since leaving her job, but explained that she believes it is vital for everyone to take time out "to heal our mind, body & soul".
"The rest will fall into place," she concluded.
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When Sam's departure from Home and Away was announced, a spokesperson for Channel 7 told Digital Spy: "We support and respect Sam's decision to leave Home and Away. Sam leaves with our sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future."
Sam's former co-star Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts on the soap, recently hinted that Sam could return to her role at some point, saying that there is "very much an open door" for her to come back.
"She needed to be with her family, but the door is definitely open for her to come back," she said. "The way that she is currently gone from the Bay, there is plenty of room for her to come back and I'm sure, that as we speak, she is in negotiations with the producers."
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.15pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR (UK) and Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 (Australia). Selected classic episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video in the UK.
