During a lockdown in 2020, the actor, 33, switched Albert Square for a construction site.
Matt, who starred as Antony Moon in EastEnders from 2011 to 2012, used Instagram at the time to advertise his own construction company, Brightside Builders.
After two years, the actor is back to acting and performing on stage, which are his two favourite things to do.
Last night at the Whsky Label launch party, Matt shared his opinions on being referred to as a “failed actor” in an exclusive interview.
Says Matt “At the end of the day, when lockdown occurred and I started working on some construction projects, they were kind of like, “failed actor turned function Object() { [native code] },” without actually putting me down.
“At the end of the day, someone is trying to make a life, so why are you criticising it? But well, it is what it is!
“Those years are behind me, and I’m back in the West End and on TV.”
Since Matt’s last visit to Walford in the role of cheeky chappy Anthony, ten years have passed.
The handsome man received roles in movies including Dead Ringer, Red Rage, The Seven, and Yardies after his time on EastEnders.
Matt was hired earlier this year to play the village’s new villain in Hollyoaks.
The actor acknowledged that he is currently too busy to return to EastEnders, but that he would “never say never” to the chance.
He does, however, have ambitions of appearing in Coronation Street, an ITV rival to the programme.
Matt acknowledged: “If my mother saw me on Corrie, which she adores dearly (no pun intended), she would be ecstatic.
“It would be fantastic, and I’d love to be the first because I don’t believe any actors have ever appeared in all four soap operas!
“Perhaps something for the bucket list then.”
Before the West End premiere of the brand-new comedy Horse Play, Matt has four weeks of rehearsals left.
Later this month, the inaugural performance will take place at London’s Riverside Studios.
