EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has confirmed she’s going to depart the cleaning soap after greater than 30 years.
The 41-year-old actress has performed Sonia Fowler on and off since 1993, however shared on Thursday that she is now formally leaving Albert Sq., the fictional space of east London the place the cleaning soap is about.
“I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited,” she stated in a press release.
“After another 11 solid years back on the square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones, so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.”
Cassidy stated it was “an honour” to be “such a big part” of the cleaning soap’s upcoming fortieth anniversary particular, earlier than including: “See you, Sonia, going but never forgotten.”
Picture:
Cassidy and her former co-star James Alexandrou, who performed Martin Fowler, in 2001. Pic: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock
The BBC confirmed Cassidy’s remaining scenes will happen across the sequence’ fortieth anniversary week, which begins on 17 February.
Exactly how she’s going to depart the present has not been introduced.
Her character is at the moment pregnant with Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) child, unaware that he killed his ex-wife Debbie – a criminal offense Sonia was later charged with. She was discovered not responsible after a video emerged of her half-sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) confessing to the crime.
It’s the newest in a sequence of dramatic occasions which have adopted Sonia over time.
Picture:
Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Sonia (Cassidy). Pic: BBC Public Service/ Kieron McCarron 2024
Different massive storylines included Sonia being bullied after she fell in with the mistaken crowd in school and her teenage being pregnant with Martin Fowler (performed by Jon Peyton-Worth and James Alexandrou), who she later married.
‘A agency favorite’
Cassidy first left the cleaning soap in 2007 earlier than returning briefly between 2010 and 2011. She returned as soon as once more to Walford in 2014.
She was described by EastEnders govt producer Chris Clenshaw as a “firm favourite amongst viewers”.
“Over the last 31 years in EastEnders, Natalie has been involved in some of the show’s most iconic and explosive storylines,” he stated.
“I won’t be revealing the finite details relating to her exit, but I can say that she will take a central role in the 40th anniversary storylines in a week of truly unmissable drama that will change the lives of those in Walford forever.
“I would prefer to thank Natalie for her time at EastEnders, and I want her all the very best for the longer term.”
Exterior the cleaning soap, Cassidy appeared on Movie star Large Brother in 2012 and at the moment hosts podcasts Life With Nat and Off The Telly.
