Reports began circulating suggesting that the 22-year-old actress had been axed after turning up to film drunk.
But Stephanie has finally revealed the real reason behind her surprise exit – she walked away from the Channel 4 soap.
Speaking to ZOO magazine, she said: “It was ultimately my choice to leave! I just walked out and the producers told me if I didn’t come back they’d have no option but to terminate my contract, but that was my choice.
“I regret the way it ended – I probably should’ve gone about it in a better way, but I was desperate for a break.”
Following the news that Stephanie would not be retuning to work on Hollyoaks, her spokesperson released a statement which read: “[Her] contract was terminated following warnings for lateness, attendance and after a final incident in which she turned up to set unfit to work because of alcohol consumption.”
But, according to Stephanie, that’s not what happened. She continued: “I’ve always had fun and when I started the show I did like to party, but I’m just like any normal 22-year-old and I’m sure everyone is the same as they’re growing up – everybody has to be 18 and a little crazy at some point.
“The drunken thing was there for people to believe if they wanted to but I know people in the industry know me for what I really am.”
And it seems Stephanie’s planning to take her career in a completely different direction now.
She said: “My passion has always been music, so I’ve been working with a few record labels and hopefully I’ll be in the studio soon and then I can look at releasing some tracks in the new year.
“I’ve written some really good music and the only other person I know to make the jump from soaps is Kylie Minogue – so let’s try to do that!”
The full interview appears in this week’s ZOO, on sale now.