How former Hollyoaks star Hannah Tointon refused to slim down for the teen soap

Former Hollyoaks actress Hannah Tointon admits she felt huge pressure to stay slim on the teen soap.

The slim 20-year-old joined the Chester-set drama in April 2007 as the little sister of Hollyoaks bad boy Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas).

After leaving the Channel 4 show three months ago after just under a year on screen, Tointon is moving on to pastures new.

Referring to her time on Hollyoaks, where many of the cast are former models, Tointon admitted she battled with body insecurity.

She said: 'I did feel pressure to look a certain way on Hollyoaks. But I just had to stay strong and not let myself get into a state of mind that isn't healthy.'

Tointon tells Reveal magazine that teenage girls should be encouraged to make the most of their natural shape.

She said: 'There is so much pressure on girls to look super-thin these days, it really is out of all control.

'It's much better to make the best of your natural shape, whatever it may be. I'm never going to be a size zero and, to be honest I don't want to be. Every girl has days when she doesn't like her appearance, but it's when you feel happy in yourself that you look good.'

The star recently moved into a north London flat with her sister Kara, who plays Dawn Swann in EastEnders.

She explained: 'We get on so well but we argue loads about clothes.

'We're having trouble keeping the place tidy as there's piles and piles of clothes sitting around everywhere.'

Talented sisters: Hannah (right) and her older sister, EastEnders actress Kara (left)