Bobby Brazier has disclosed plans to leave Britain and start a new chapter in the United States, sharing the news on his 23rd birthday.
The former EastEnders actor revealed his transatlantic move in an Instagram video posted today, where he was filmed being approached by a model casting agent on the street.
When asked about a potential test shoot, Mr Brazier responded: "You know I'm actually moving to New York. Well, I say New York, in New Jersey."
The actor confirmed he expects to arrive in America next month, just months after his exit from the BBC soap opera.
Bobby Brazier is best known for his role on EastEnders
| BBCMr Brazier is the son of television presenter Jeff Brazier and the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, who passed away from cervical cancer in 2009 when he was just three years old.
The young actor spent three years portraying Freddie Slater on the BBC One soap, with his final scenes airing on December 2 last year.
His performance in the role earned him the Rising Star award at the National Television Awards, and he also competed in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional partner Dianne Buswell, finishing as runner-up.
Since departing Albert Square, Mr Brazier has stepped away from the spotlight and embraced a more spiritual path.
Bobby Brazier has quit showbiz
|BBC
Following his exit from EastEnders, Mr Brazier has immersed himself in the Hare Krishna faith, a branch of Hinduism centred on devotion to Krishna as the supreme deity.
The 23-year-old documented a trip to India where he participated in chanting and dancing alongside other devotees, describing the experience in glowing terms on social media.
"It doesn't get better than this," he wrote on Instagram. "This is the pleasure that the soul is running after."
He added that chanting and dancing "in the association of devotees" offers "an experience that the material world just doesn't offer."
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Practitioners of the faith express their devotion through traditional worship, repetitive chanting of Krishna's name, and celebratory dancing.
While preparing for his move across the Atlantic, Mr Brazier has established himself as a dedicated presence at the Hare Krishna temple in Soho.
A volunteer at the temple told MailOnline: "He's here every Saturday without fail. He joins our kitchen session, learns the prayers – this isn't a gimmick."
A family friend explained: "Bobby had a difficult life. His mum dying left a mark on him, as it would.
Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell made it to the final of BBC Strictly in 2023 | BBC"Hare Krishna is somewhere he seeks solace. It might seem strange, but for him, it works."