• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• Eastenders

EastEnders star unveils dramatic new look as he opens up on 'dark times'

EastEnders actor Max Bowden made an appearance on ITV Loose Women with a brand new look as he opened up on his exit from the soap

EastEnders star Max Bowden revealed a new look complete with moustache as he opened up on ITV's Loose Women about feeling very tired and depressed just before his exit from the BBC hit soap,

Earlier this year, the actor, 29 , left his role as Ben Mitchell after his character was sent to prison in America for fraud. Prior to this, he was involved in an emotional storyline that saw Lola, the mother of Bens daughter Lexi, die after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

During an appearance on Loose Women alongside panellists Judi Love, Denise Welch, GK Barry and Charlene White, Max admitted that the storylines were close to his heart as his best friend passed away from the same cancer.

Speaking about his friend Max, he said: It was very quick. Max was the life and soul of the party and was very successful. On the Friday I sent him a voice note about football and the next day he went into a coma from an undiagnosed brain tumour."

[0_EastEnders-star-Max-Bowden.png]

EastEnders star Max Bowden appeared on ITV Loose Women(Image: ITV)

The star continued: It was a very dark time for me because I had to process what was going on and from a selfish point of view, when you play a story like that it was weird.

Judi asked: There was a moment before you said that towards the end of EastEnders you had a burn out. Was that because you had to re-leave a story that was close to you or just being on a big soap?

Max opened up and admitted: I was very tired and I was very depressed honestly because of the nature of what we are doing. It was very intense.

[Max Bowden ]

Max Bowden left his role as Ben Mitchell after his character was sent to prison in America for fraud(Image: BBC)

"When youre telling the story of every man and woman, its important that we do it justice so that you can sometimes burn out and I was at that point so it was the right time.

Elsewhere in the show, Max addressed his new look as he admitted that it wasnt his personal choice and it was in fact for his new role.

Max stars in a theatre project for the 30th-anniversary production of Birdsong, which is based on Sebastian Faulks' novel and tells the story of one man's journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of World War I.

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.