Over the past few years, Laura Whitmore has made a dramatic career transition, moving away from the glitz of TV presenting to embrace the world of theatre, where she now performs for audiences of just 300 people.
Starting out in the entertainment industry with an MTV reporting job, Laura quickly rose to fame when she took on the high-profile role of hosting Love Island from 2020 to 2022, after Caroline Flack stepped down.
Leaving Love Island and the Struggles Behind the Scenes
However, after only three seasons on the hit ITV show, Laura decided to step away.
Despite Love Island pulling in millions of viewers every week, she admitted that some aspects of the job became difficult for her.
Laura opened up about the challenges, revealing that she often felt forced to “stay quiet” when interacting with the islanders and expressed frustration with the limitations of her role on the show.
This dissatisfaction ultimately led her to walk away from the spotlight that Love Island offered.
A New Direction in the Industry
Since departing from the ITV juggernaut, Laura has taken a step back from mainstream television.
Although she briefly attempted to maintain a connection with ITV through projects like Laura Whitmore’s Breakfast Show, which was cancelled after a few months, and Date My Mate on Prime Video, which was also axed after one season, she has shifted her focus to more personal and creative endeavors.
Her move into producing with Laura Whitmore Investigates on ITVX was a pivotal moment for her.
For the first time, she was able to step behind the camera, reclaiming control over her work after feeling frustrated by the lack of input she had on previous shows.
She described this move as “reclaiming my power,” and it was a significant shift in her career.
A New Chapter in Theatre
In 2022, after leaving Love Island, Laura made her West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story, a production that’s gained more attention for its rotating cast than for its reviews.
Her next big move? Taking on a starring role in The Girl on the Train on tour, followed by a run at Hampstead Theatre in North London.
The intimate 325-seat theatre is a stark contrast to the millions of viewers she once entertained on Love Island.
For Laura, this change is also about balancing work and family life.
As a mother to her four-year-old daughter, Stevie, Laura has adjusted her career schedule to fit in with her family responsibilities.
She explained that she took on the theatre work in the summer so that she wouldn’t have to disrupt Stevie’s school schedule.
“Life is a juggle,” she said, acknowledging the challenges of balancing motherhood with her career.
During her time in the West End, Laura made it work by performing at night while spending her days with Stevie, and she plans to do the same for her upcoming theatre commitments.
The Reality of Theatre Pay and Family Priorities
While theatre work offers a more flexible schedule, it likely comes with a significant pay cut compared to her Love Island salary.
Stage actors can earn around £1,430 a week, according to experts, while Laura was reportedly earning upwards of £600,000 for her role as Love Island host, though she later denied that figure.
Despite the lower paycheck, Laura has found fulfillment in focusing on her family and reassessing her priorities.
She admitted that motherhood has been the most challenging role of her life, changing her perspective on time and what truly matters.
“It makes me more appreciative of time and of giving my time to the right things,” she shared.
A Different Kind of Success
For now, Laura isn’t chasing the huge paychecks she once received.
Instead, her focus is on her daughter and finding balance in her career.
The move to theatre and her dedication to motherhood reflect her evolving priorities, showing that success to her now is about making meaningful choices and carving out space for the people and projects that truly matter.