Claire Sweeney revealed how she made less than £5000 last year after her income was 'decimated'.
The Brookside star, 50, said her earnings plunged in lockdown as she was unable to perform on stage or screen. Instead, Claire had to live off the money she had received after selling her house in Mallorca the year before.
Speaking about the difficult time, Claire was asked by The Sunday Times exactly how much she earned in 2021. She said: "Under £5,000. Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I'd sold a house in Spain, in 2019, so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably.
READ MORE: Paddy McGuinness can't contain his pride over autistic son's milestone
"It was a big house in Mallorca that I'd bought in 2004 for €690,000 (£580,000). It broke my heart to sell but it was on its own grounds, and my little boy didn't want that - he wanted to be with other kids."
According to the Mirror, Claire – who shares six-year-old son Jaxon with former fiancé Daniel Reilly – went on to explain that, although she did sell the property for a higher price than what she bought it for, her profits were ultimately swallowed up by taxes as she was slapped with bills from both countries.
She said: “I sold it for €950,000 (£804,000), but I had to pay Spanish taxes and English taxes." Fortunately, work has picked up again for Claire and she will soon be seen in a new West End show called Cabaret All Stars – which she says she has been getting in shape for. She told Closer Magazine: "This show has got a really raunchy feel to it, laced with lots of humour.
"I wear a fabulous catsuit! I find it really liberating that I'm going to get completely outrageous and I am going to sing the song Light My Fire with a big band arrangement - and I think they're actually going to set fire to me while I'm doing it."
"This does all mean that I want to look my physical best. So the plan is to start going to the gym and hot yoga five days a week because it's amazing for weight loss and strengthening my core."
Claire previously said she had gained weight during lockdown – and was hoping to shed the pounds while touring with a production of 9 to 5: The Musical during the opening months of this year. Appearing on Lorraine back in January, she said: “I'm a stone overweight at the moment, but I think, that will come off. Just don't beat yourself up over things.”
Lorraine said: “You're a wise woman. Far too many of us put things off - thinking I'll wear that when I lose a stone. Wear it now.”
Claire laughed and said: “Get your suck-in knickers on and wear a frock.”
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
