EastEnders icon ‘preparing’ for exit after 31 years as she issues plea to soap bosses
Natalie Cassidy has played Sonia Fowler on EastEnders for over three decades - but the soap icon has now candidly spoken out about the possibility of saying her goodbyes
EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy has candidly spoken out about the possibility of leaving.
The soap icon shot to fame playing Sonia Fowler on the long-running BBC One soap. Natalie made her debut way back in 1993 when she was just 10 years old.
And since then, it’s fair to say she’s become a fan-favourite, and one of the soap’s most iconic characters. What’s more, Natalie has had her fair share of big storylines playing Sonia.
From teenage pregnancy to a cancer scare, her time in Walford has not been short of drama. Especially at the moment, as over in the square last week, Sonia was issued some devastating baby news.
However, despite being a soap legend, Natalie has revealed how fans assume her role is safe on the long-running soap. But according to the actress, that is not the case.
Candidly speaking about her future on EastEnders, Natalie said: “One day, you know, I’m sure Sonia will end. I don’t know when, hopefully she will potter about being a nurse for a bit longer.”
And it seems she has a request for soap bosses. Natalie added on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast: “I don’t want her to die a terrible death, I don’t want her to get run over or pushed in Walford train station.”
When asked about how soap producers will often make dramatic changes to big characters, Natalie went on: “To be honest, it’s got to evolve and characters have to come and go because otherwise it will be a very boring place.
“You have different people come in with different ideas. Of course you’re upset if you lose a friend from somewhere but it’s the same with any job and moving on.”
She went on: “She added: ‘Genuinely, it’s not a joke, every contract that comes round for me in my head I think, ‘Oh, I’m going then.’ I have to think, ‘Oh I’m going to be leaving then’ because I could be gone, definitely gone.”
