Holby City star Rosie Marcel revealed that she has officially retired from acting after a ‘really tough’ three years.
The actress, 47, who is best known for her role as Jac Naylor on the BBC medical drama, continued in the role until the series finale in 2022, when Jac’s character tragically pᴀssed away from a brain tumour.
Now, Rosie has opened up on her decision to step away from acting altogether.
In a candid statement on Instagram, the actress said: ‘Well I guess it’s out there now. No longer a secret that I’ve retired. Go to Metro Online and read the lovely Calli Kitsons article.’
‘I’m pretty sure I didn’t say “whatever” that much…and I’m surely more erudite than that? Or maybe retirement and the dreaded menopause has well and truly kicked in!
‘Either way. I’m happy. Truly happy. It’s been a pleasure and a journey. I’ve given my bit. I’m happy with what I put out in the world. Delighted with some lovely successes.’
Holby City star Rosie Marcel revealed that she has officially retired from acting after a ‘really tough’ three years
The actress, 47, who stars as Jac Naylor on the BBC medical drama, continued in the role until the series finale in 2022 when Jac’s character tragically pᴀssed away from a brain tumour
‘Made some great friends. Lost some dear ones. Lost my mind several times but always got it back. Learnt some great lessons. Gave and got back a lot of kindness.
‘Laughed more than I should have on set. Didn’t laugh enough. What a bloody good bit of life I had. Ready for the next bit. Happy to just be me now.’
According to The Metro, Rosie revealed that despite attempting to take on new roles, no one has offered her another acting job.
She told the publication: ‘I won’t lie, it’s been a really tough three and a half years. I haven’t had a single job and that’s been really, really difficult.
‘A lot of that is, I would imagine, people can’t see beyond Jac. I think a lot of it is because of my age, I think it’s my gender.
‘I decided to retire. So I actually retired in May. In all honesty, so much changed in our lives in that time – my husband’s gym burned down, obviously, I lost my job, Ben nearly died, I lost a couple of babies, I got caught in a terrible accident on the A41, another accident with a guy who’d been stabbed by his son. Just this crazy three years of stuff happened.’
She also added that applying for a Netflix job and knowing she was up against 6,000 people ‘really forced my hand in some ways’.
Fans of Rosie flooded the comment section to support the star on her decision to retire.
Now, Rosie has opened up on her decision to step away from acting altogether in a candid statement on Instagram
Fans of Rosie then flooded the comment section to support the star on her decision to retire
One fan wrote: ‘The most important thing is you’re happy, Rosie. It’s definitely the acting world’s loss, but if you are happy, that’s the main thing.’; ‘love you so so so so much.’;
While another wrote: ‘I’m sad, but also happy for you. Enjoy whatever life brings.’
In 2022, Holby City fans were left devastated as the Casualty spin-off came to a dramatic conclusion in the final episode after 23 years on the BBC.
The medical drama finale focused on Jac Naylor, played by Rosie after she awoke from a life-or-death operation led by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and the team to remove her brain tumour.
Jac asked Adrian ‘Fletch’ Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw) to write her a do-not-resuscitate order, despite Elliot telling the team that he wanted to do another operation.
Read More Holby City star Rosie Marcel’s husband Ben rushed to hospital as she shares snaps of paramedics treating him at their home 
Fletch said: ‘I just hate the thought of you giving up,’ as Jac replied: ‘Let me tell you about giving up. Letting this thing take control. Wipe out my mind. Leaving me delirious and doubly incontinent – that’s giving up.’
‘I have never been clearer about anything in my life. Please do this one thing for me.’
Soon after, Jac suffered a stroke and was left brainᴅᴇᴀᴅ forcing Fletch to tell Elliot, Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) and Max McGerry (Jo Martin) about the Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT).
Fletch explained: ‘She said if anything like this happened – I think she knew that something like this was coming and she made up her mind.’
Elliot said: ‘It’s Jaq’s decision. We may not like it but we have to respect it.’
It was then revealed that Jac had donated her organs to patients who needed them including a medical student, a full-time mother of four and Lexy Morrell, who received her heart.
In the closing moments, the voice of Jac could be heard in the background saying: ‘It took me a long time to find a place I belonged, somewhere to call home.’
‘It wasn’t with my mother or the carers she dumped me on when she walked out of my life, it certainly wasn’t with any man, it was when I first walked into a theatre.’
‘I knew then one day I had found my place in the world, somewhere I belonged. This is what the NHS means to us, not a badge on a cabinet minister’s lapel, not a number down the side of a bus, it’s a nurse missing her break to sit with a lonely patient, a surgeon grinding out a 15-hour op, the sound of sirens coming to the rescue, Thursday night applause sounding out the rooftops, it’s all of us doing the best we can in impossible circumstances. It’s something to believe in, it’s home.’
In 2022, Holby City fans were left devastated as the Casualty spin-off came to a dramatic conclusion in the final episode after 23 years on the BBC
The medical drama finale focused on Jac Naylor, played by Rosie after she awoke from a life-or-death operation led by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and the team to remove her brain tumour
After seeing the finale episode, viewers took to social media, with many raging against the broadcasting giant.
One tweeted: ‘I know there’s bigger things going in in the world right now, yet for me, axing #Holby is the worst decision the BBC has ever made. Complete disregard for its customers & wider stakeholders. I’m guessing inner politics is at play. Ridiculous!’;
‘I still cannot believe #HolbyCity was axed when viewing figures were so high & it’s fanbase so loyal. I’ve spent 23 years of my life watching & all involved are done a great disservice by the cancellation. They didn’t even get an extended episode to send it off!’;
‘@BBC can’t believe you spent £87 million on Albert Square #Eastenders a show dying in the ratings, but you killed off #HolbyCity that was well loved and had so many stories left to be told.’;
The final episode also featured the reappearance of past characters including Ric Griffin, played by Hugh Quarshie, and Mo Effanga, played by Chizzy Akudolu.
The BBC announced they were scrapping Holby City, a fictional city based on Bristol, the year before as it continued its drive to appear more northern, sparking a furious backlash among fans.
The long-running medical drama was filmed at the corporation’s London Elstree Studios for 23 years.
The announcement left dedicated fans of the soap furious, calling the move ‘short-sighted’ and warning that the diverse cast and storylines were going to be lost.
The BBC said in a statement at the time: ‘We are incredibly proud of Holby City. But it’s with great sadness that we are announcing that after 23 years, the show will end on screen in March of next year.
‘We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBC’s commitment to make more programmes across the UK.
‘We have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBC’s drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing team at BBC Studios and all the cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 1999.
‘Holby has been a stalwart with audiences, delighting millions of viewers each week and winning hundreds of awards with a compelling mix of cutting-edge medical stories and explosive personal stories.
‘We look forward to working with the team over the coming months to ensure that when it ends, Holby goes out on a high.’
