Inside EastEnders’ James Farrar’s life from family to reason he quit modelling

James Farrar is best known for his role as Zack Hudson in EastEnders, having joined the beloved BBC soap in 2021.

The 37 year old actor has tackled some major storylines since his debut on the show, with Zack’s romantic entanglements stirring up a fair bit of drama in Walford.

Recently, Zack discovered he is the biological father of Barney Mitchell (played by Lewis Bridgeman), but Nicola (Laura Doddington) has forced him to keep it a secret. He’s about to take the spotlight in forthcoming episodes, as Zack finds himself in peril following a car accident.

Let’s delve into James’ life off-screen, including his family and previous career as a model….

James’ early years

Born in Greenwich, London, James studied drama and media at the University of Portsmouth, graduating in 2008. He also attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010, reports Belfast Live.

James is a certified personal trainer and vegan chef. Before embarking on his acting career, he worked as a model.

Before joining EastEnders, he appeared in Hollyoaks as Liam Gilmore, as well as other shows like Call the Midwife. He’s also featured in several short films, including Donkey, Dominic and Loser.

James’ family life

James has been blissfully married to Ali Roff Farrar for over seven years. The pair exchanged vows in 2017.

Ali is the Wellness Director for Psychologies Magazine and has also co-founded We Are Remedy retreats with her significant other, offering luxury wellness escapes across the UK.

Furthermore, Ali has made a mark as an author, releasing The Wellfulness Project in 2020.

2021 brought joy to James and Ali as they welcomed their bundle of joy, their daughter Summer Connie Castling Farrar, into their Blackheath home.

James’ modelling career

Before venturing into acting, James had a successful stint in modelling, striking poses for luxury giants like Jimmy Choo and Dolce and Gabbana, rubbing shoulders with icons such as Nicole Kidman and Kate Moss.

It was his mother’s illness that led him to hang up his modelling boots, as James yearned to remain close during what could be his final moments with her. Sharing with TV Mag, he explained: “One of the reasons I joined EastEnders was because of my mum, who has cancer. It meant that if these are my last days with her, we spent them together rather than me travelling the world.”

EastEnders airs Monday – Thursday on BBC One at 7.30pm. All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.