Esther spoke exclusively to Australia’s OK! Magazine on her exit from Home and Away. In an article titled ‘Why I’m Leaving’ it tells about Esther’s journey on Home and Away coming to an end, and the exciting new chapter that awaits her! Scans are in the gallery!

With her stunning smile and model proportions, Esther Anderson certainly has the looks to take on Hollywood. And after three-and-a-half years of juicy storylines in her role as Summer Bay’s straight-talking cop Charlie Buckton, Esther has the acting cred to join the long list of Home and Away graduates who have gone on to superstardom.

Just don’t put too much pressure on this 32-year-old actress! ‘Everyone’s like, “Oh, Home and Away, so many people have done so well”, and I’m like, “Yeah, but you do only hear the success stories!”,’ Esther laughs. ‘I just want to take my own steps and try and see what’s meant to be for me next.’ As she prepares for life after Summer Bay, Esther tells OK! about her decision to leave the show, her plans to take on LA and what she really thinks about the body pressure in the industry…

It was a shock for your fans to see Charlie die… When did you decide your time was up on the show? It feels like a while ago now because we film three months ahead, and then they plot the storyline three months before that, so for about six months I’ve known. It’s been a long time to keep it a secret!

You’ve become such a favourite on the show – was it hard to walk away? Yeah, definitely, it was a very difficult decision. I absolutely loved my job and I had such a wonderful experience on Home and Away, so it wasn’t that there was any real reason for leaving except that it just felt like the right time. My contract had ended, and if I didn’t leave now I think it would have been really difficult to ever leave. It’s great to leave before I’m getting itchy feet. I’d just like to leave on a note where I’m still enjoying it so much, and I don’t feel I’ve outgrown it. If I don’t leave now I don’t know when I would, and because Home and Away’s been my first role, there’s just that little part in the back of my mind that wants a new challenge and is curious to see what other roles are out there.

Just a small newspaper article from Geelong Advertiser…

Geelong may be ready to crown its newest golden couple. New Cats captain Joel Selwood, 23, and actress Esther Anderson, 32, have been spotted getting cosy around their home town since meeting at a Cats president’s lunch in June.

Numerous Addy readers saw the rumoured new lovers canoodling at the Lorne Pier to Pub swim earlier this month. Anderson, a huge Cats fan, has spoken fondly about the Geelong footballer, listing him as one of her favourite players along with Jimmy Bartel and Paul Chapman.

While Selwood has never graced the red carpet at awards nights with a special lady on his arm, Anderson’s relationship status has been the topic of countless articles since she split from fellow actor boyfriend Conrad Coleby in 2010. But with Selwood firmly grounded in Geelong with his new leadership role, and Anderson said to be moving to Los Angeles to chase an international acting career, it looks like the couple would have to pursue a long-distance relationship if sparks continued to fly.

After finishing up at Home and Away this week following almost four years residency at Summer Bay, the beauty said she broke down when she found out her police officer character Charlie Buckton would be killed off. “I knew they (the producers) were going to say I died, I just knew it. I started sobbing. But that was the initial shock, you know you’ve played this character for 3 1/2 years and you really empathise with them and you have to love a part of them,” she said.

For now, the talented actress is waiting to hear whether a short visit to LA before Christmas has opened some doors. “I took some meetings so we’ll see what happens,” she said.

Channel 7 have released a new video of Esther’s co-star Rebecca Breeds talking about her final scenes with Esther. They’ve certainly been on a wonderful journey together and we all look forward to see what happens to Ruby now she’s lost her mum. Enjoy!!!

What an emotional episode of Home and Away. After 3 and half years it was sad to see the death of Charlie Buckton but what an extraordinary 3 and half years it’s been for Esther! Words can’t begin to describe everyone’s feelings on the episode or Charlie’s death so to finalize it all, I hope everyone is able to watch the interview with Esther and Steve Peacocke, “Goodbye Charlie”. And if you thought Home and Away was sad, have your tissues ready for the interview too!

There will be many updates to follow including new photos, screen captures and interviews so keep checking the site for new things as well as what the future holds for Esther as this is just the beginning of a new chapter in her life!

Wow! Did you all tune into the 2012 premiere of Home and Away? What an episode. Unbelievable talent from Esther’s co-star Rebecca Breeds, just mind blowing amazing! Such an emotional and heart wrenching episode to watch seeing Charlie laying there in the hospital bed. What did you all think?

Please remember to keep voting for Esther for the 2012 TV Week Logie awards. After 4 years of playing Charlie Buckton we would LOVE to see her end this era with a Silver and Gold logie. So get behind her and vote Most Popular Actress as well as Most Popular Personality on TV. It is one vote per person so please everyone get behind Esther NOW!

We’ve been waiting 6 weeks to find the outcome of spoilers, rumors and everything else and while we still haven’t seen what happens to Charlie on Home and Away which has it’s 2012 premiere tonight on Channel 7 at 7pm, it has now been confirmed that Esther HAS left the show and is looking forward to the future!

Like many former cast mates, Esther Anderson is contemplating a Hollywood career with her Home And Away character leaving Summer Bay for the final time this week. Anderson’s final scenes on the popular soap play out this week as her alter-ego Charlie Buckton leaves the show at the start of its 24th year.

Anderson filmed her last scenes in August, and five months on, remains happy with her decision to “throw my life in the air and see what happens”. “One minute your life is one thing and the next you have no ties, no job and feel fantastic. It’s liberating,” she said.

The 32-year-old hopes to follow the well-worn path of other former Home And Away stars to Hollywood, after four years playing Charlie. The former model made a brief visit to Los Angeles before Christmas, and has picked up a few modelling jobs, but has relished the break, sometimes seen topless at Bondi this summer.

She could settle quickly back into modelling, but “acting is what I want to do”. “I went to LA for a couple of weeks, took some meetings, and did a bit of driving on the other side of the road,” she laughed. “I don’t have a plan set in concrete to move there just yet. But there is so much more work over there.”

While it’s sad to see her leave Charlie behind after 4 years, we are all very excited to see what’s next for Esther and wish her nothing but the absolute best. Keep watching this space for future news but in the meantime enjoy some gorgeous new photos.