The actress played Sonia Fowler for 22 years
Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, took one of her character’s most iconic props home when she left the show. The 42-year-old actress exited the BBC soap earlier this year after portraying Sonia on and off for 22 years and was more interested in taking a trumpet, notoriously played poorly by her character, than any of Sonia’s wardrobe.
When asked about what items she had taken with her, Natalie revealed to Bella magazine: “Only my trumpet. I didn’t want any of her clothes. After I’d left, I dyed my hair red and had my eyebrows micro-bladed, so I’ll never have to use a pencil again.”
While Natalie hasn’t completely ruled out a return to EastEnders, she is currently relishing the freedom she has away from Walford.
The star, who has written her new autobiography Happy Days, stated: “Well, never say never. I had an eight-year break and then came back after 12 years. They’ve now been kind enough to say the door remains open. At the moment, I’m just enjoying the freedom of being able to plan a bit more.”
Natalie has been in a relationship with cameraman Marc Humphreys for ten years and plans to marry her fiancé at some point in the future. The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who has daughters Joanie, nine, with Marc and Eliza, 15, from her previous relationship with Adam Cottrell, shared: “We met 10 years ago this month and Marc is turning 40, so this would have been the perfect time. But I’m too busy publicising the book. It’ll happen sooner or later. Marc’s the one I want to grow old with.”
She added: “We’re friends and we laugh all the time. When he’s off working, I miss him. We like being together. He’s made me find who I am, the real me.”
Natalie disclosed her aspirations of securing a sitcom role and participating in The Celebrity Traitors in the future.
When questioned about her vision for the next decade, she responded: “I’d love to be cooking in my kitchen after a four-week holiday in Italy having already learned to speak Italian. I’d like a regular role in a sitcom, and I hope I’d still be doing my podcast, Life with Nat.”
She added: “Oh, and if the right people are reading this, I’d love to be on Celebrity Traitors. Please!”
Are you an EastEnders fan? Get the latest gossip and news in our EastEnders newsletter. Sign up HERE!
