EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy takes swipe at soap saying she feels ‘free’ after quitting ‘sad and depressing’ role
EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy has taken a swipe at the soap, saying she now feels “free” after quitting the “sad and depressing” role.
Fans watched Natalie’s character Sonia Fowler leave Albert Square for good, trumpet in hand, in April after 32 years on the soap
Natalie arrived in Walford in 1993 as part of the rowdy Jackson family.
This included sister Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer, brother Robbie, portrayed by Dean Gaffney, and Lindsey Coulson as mum Carol.
Natalie first left EastEnders in 2007, before returning briefly between 2010 and 2011, and again in 2014.
However, in January 2025 she revealed she was off again, a decision she appears to be very happy with, as she found the role quite “depressing”
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“Sonia isn’t the most glamorous of characters, bless her, but I wanted to stay true to her character, so I never got extensions put in, or dyed my hair,” she told Prima magazine.
“She was just a worker who didn’t have a lot of money and worked for the NHS.”
Continuing she revealed: “But coming away, and breaking free, I just thought, ‘I want to be glam. I want to wear coloured nails. And just feel like me’.
“I do feel like my face has changed a little since leaving EastEnders, because I was quite sad and depressed when I was playing Sonia, or angry all the time.”
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Natalie announced she was leaving EastEnders in January.
She said in a statement: “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 said.
“Thank you to [executive producer] Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary – it’s an honour. See you, Sonia, going but never forgotten.”
Shortly after revealing she had quit Natalie exclusively told The Sun on Sunday: “I just feel like it’s time to be brave.
“You don’t want to get to 70 and think, ‘I never tried that’.
“I’ve loved this programme with all my heart. I started at ten, it’s in my bones, it’s in my heart.”
Natalie made the decision following a heart-to-heart with the soap’s top boss Chris Clenshaw last summer.
She said: “I’d been thinking about it for a little while. I had a wonderful chat with Chris back in the summer (2024). It’s just exciting.”
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Since leaving the soap, Natalie has continued to work, which includes her very successful podcast, Life We Nat.
She also did a short-lived podcast called Off The Telly, with Joanna Page, and starred in the comedy-drama Boarders.