His legendary character Russ Owen was killed off on the Channel 4 soap in 2018.
And Stuart Manning has landed a new acting role as he showed off his new look to Instagram on Thursday.
The soap star, 40, looked unrecognisable as he shared a snap of himself with a massive bushy beard and longer hair.
Unrecognisable: Stuart Manning has landed a new acting role as he showed off his new look to Instagram on Thursday
Posting the photo alongside a clean-shaven picture of himself, he explained that he had grown his locks for a new role which has now been postponed due to global coronavirus pandemic.
Stuart penned: ‘ My beard is massive, I’ve been growing it out for an exciting new role… That’s now on ice for a while because of coronavirus. Should the beard stay or go? Comment below . .’
And just two hours later, the actor shared a new clean-shaven snap of himself as he revealed that he had listened to the public vote and got rid of the beard.
Hollyoaks: His legendary character Russ Owen was killed off on the Channel 4 soap in 2018 (pictured in a soap still)
Woah: The soap star, 40, looked unrecognisable as he shared a snap of himself with a massive bushy beard and longer hair, left, and pictured on Hollyoaks, right
Keeping some stubble, Stuart announced: ‘THE PUBLIC (and the wife) HAS SPOKEN! The beard has gone! We’re heading up to the Highlands tonight to escape all this madness. #staysafe.’
The star’s last role was on Hollyoaks in 2018 where his character Russ Owen made a return to Chester.
Although Stuart admitted he was ‘gutted’ that Russ was soon killed off the Channel 4 soap just months after he returned.
The actor took to Twitter at the time to share a video after the dramatic scenes aired, saying it had been ‘an amazing three months’ and he ‘didn’t really want to die’.
Decisions: Posting the photo alongside a clean-shaven picture of himself, he explained that he had grown his locks for a new role which has now been postponed due to global coronavirus pandemic
The public has spoken! And just two hours later, the actor shared a new clean-shaven snap of himself as he revealed that he had listened to the public vote and got rid of the beard
The nail-biting episode saw his alter-ego Russ brutally killed off on his own wedding day after he was exposed to cheating on wife Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) with her own cousin Goldie McQueen (Chelsee Healey).
Hollyoaks fans were left reeling following the hour-long special, as kind barmaid and Goldie’s mother Breda McQueen (Moya Brady) was exposed as a serial killer, who bludgeoned the multi-millionaire businessman to death.
Speaking on a video posted to his Twitter page at the time, he said: ‘It’s been an amazing three months, the best time of my life working on Hollyoaks.
Emotional: Stuart admitted he was ‘gutted’ that Russ was soon killed off the Channel 4 soap just months after he returned in 2018
‘I’ve met some of the most amazing people and worked with some of the most amazing people, cast and crew. Thank you to all you guys for being so amazing over the past… lots of years.
‘But now I’m gone. Russ has been killed. So I don’t know what to say, apart from thank you. I’m going to miss everyone.
Tragic: The actor took to Twitter to share a video after the dramatic scenes aired, saying it had been ‘an amazing three months’ and he ‘didn’t really want to die’ (Russ pictured after his death on the soap)
Stunned: The nail-biting episode saw his alter-ego Russ brutally killed off on his own wedding day after he was exposed to cheating on wife Mercedes McQueen
‘I’m a bit gutted, to be honest. I didn’t really want to die. But there you go. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the hour episode. There’s lots more to come’.
Taking to Twitter, fans of the Channel 4 soap gushed about the heart-stopping twist which saw Russ bludgeoned to death after his wedding ended in disaster.
Breda was later revealed to be the culprit – despite Mercedes being falsely arrested for the crime – it was also revealed she was also behind the deaths of villains Carl Costello and Glenn Donovan.
Shocking: Kind barmaid and Goldie’s mother Breda McQueen (Moya Brady) was exposed as a serial killer, who bludgeoned the multi-millionaire businessman to death
Explosive: Despite it being her sixth attempt down the aisle, Mercedes big day ended in catastrophe, finding out Russ had impregnated her relative Goldie (Chelsee Healey)