THIS IS MY LAMENT

Without a trace of bitterness or rancour, Martine McCutcheon has described the Hollywood film industry as "brutal" in the way they treat the stars and the fact that their careers are so short-lived. Well, some of those careers are certainly short-lived, that's for sure.

In an unprecedented outburst of moaning to Closer magazine, the former EastEnder lamented the fact that the Hollywood machine can chew people up, drain them of their creative juices and spit them out again, perhaps explaining why she remains completely untouched.

"Los Angeles is just brutal. Even Cameron Diaz is old hat. Once you do three movies, you're over." Erm, I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure Cameron Diaz has done more than three movies. And that Meryl Streep has done loads of films. Ah, but these two actresses do have that little extra thing called talent. Can you recall three Hollywood movies starring any bitter ex-EastEnders called 'Martine'?

"I can see why people like Kate Winslet have said they like spending time in the UK - Los Angeles just isn't the real world." Yes, Kate likes spending time in the UK. At least she has a choice rather than having to pack up and leave before the landlord comes around for the rent.

"Even though moving there wasn't a godsend for my career, I got the chance to take stock - I grew up a lot in that year." It wasn't a godsend for her career. A quote sure to delight producers of her latest show 'Echo Beach/Moving Wallpaper/Moving Bowels'.