Natalie Cassidy, the beloved EastEnders star, is set to depart from Walford, as she leaves the BBC One soap behind. The 41 year old actress, who has brought Sonia Fowler to life since the Jackson family arrived on Albert Square in 1993, is seeking new adventures after an impressive run.
Cassidy confirmed her exit, stating: “After another 11 solid years back on the square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new.”
She hasn’t lost any love for the show that launched her career, confessing: “EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.”
On her podcast, Life with Nat, which she co-hosts with partner Marc Humphreys, Natalie opened up about leaving: “It’s nice to be able to say that I’m leaving, and I just think it’s really nice for people to know that I am going. (It will) be interesting to see what other work offers come in – none at all probably!”
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Earlier, she had mentioned that announcing her departure felt “a weight lifted off my shoulders”.
But it’s not over yet; Sonia remains embroiled in a gripping murder scandal involving her on-screen partner Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman). Besides EastEnders, Natalie has been a familiar face on shows like The Catherine Tate Show and Psychoville, and more recently shone in the BBC drama Boarders, reports Plymouth Live.
However, it’s her time on EastEnders that has received the most acclaim, bagging her a British Soap Award twice, first in 2001 and then again in 2004. Besides her long-standing role on the soap, Natalie has also made a name for herself in theatre, with performances in productions like Bedroom Farce, Gertrude’s Secret and The Cherry Orchard.
In addition to her diverse acting roles, Natalie also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and later finished eighth in Celebrity Big Brother three years later. EastEnders fans have seen Natalie mature right before their eyes.
(Image: BBC)
It feels like just yesterday Sonia was stirring up trouble on the square as a teenager and longing for Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder), making her an absolute icon of British television.
Born in Islington, North London, on May 13, 1983, Natalie displayed a knack for performing at a young age and chose to refine her skills at the Anna Scher Theatre.
Following this, Natalie made her professional acting debut at the tender age of 10, when she landed a coveted role in EastEnders as Sonia Jackson (later Fowler), which remains her most enduring and memorable performance on screen to date. But there’s more to Natalie than just her successful acting career.
Away from EastEnders, she enjoys a quiet life with her cameraman fiancé Marc and their two daughters, teenager Eliza, and Joanie, in Hertfordshire.
(Image: No credit)
The smitten duo have been an item since 2014, having met on the EastEnders set. They announced their engagement in October 2015 and welcomed a baby girl into their lives in August 2016.
Marc and Natalie, who prefer to keep their relationship away from the public eye, have occasionally treated fans to sweet snaps of themselves on social media over the years.
Natalie has hinted at wedding bells in the near future, sharing, “I do think we’ll get our close family together at a lovely place in London, go to a restaurant and have a big party afterwards.”
In a recent chat with OK! Magazine, she referred to her Hertfordshire home as her “happy place”, proudly stating, “I’m proud of it”. Reflecting on her time on the soap, she said: “It’s been nothing but an amazing joy.
“I just feel so grateful and lucky to have had that in my life. My character Sonia has had ups and downs, but the biggest thing I feel is that she’s become a bit of an icon.”
View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/inside-eastenders-natalie-cassidys-life-34657365
