NATALIE CASSIDY REFLECTS ON LEAVING EASTENDERS AFTER 30 YEARS

Natalie Cassidy has described leaving EastEnders as "really hard" after playing Sonia Fowler for more than 30 years. During an appearance on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast, Cassidy discussed the challenges of stepping away from the BBC soap and reflected on her career beyond the role. She acknowledged that few actors successfully transition away from long-running soap parts to establish themselves elsewhere in the entertainment industry.

Cassidy said she took pride in how she navigated life after the soap, attributing her success partly to maintaining her own identity throughout her time on the show. She revealed that she deliberately avoided hiding behind the character of Sonia, continuing to appear on quiz shows and participate in interviews during her 30 years with EastEnders. Thornton highlighted that Cassidy was among a small handful of actors who had managed to forge a career beyond a defining soap role and achieve further success.

Cassidy reflected that she has always been comfortable being herself rather than relying solely on her character identity. She noted that many actors choose to hide behind their roles, implying this approach had limited her professional options. Cassidy expressed confidence in how she had managed her transition away from the character that brought her initial fame.