The actress played the role of Sonia Fowler for over three decades on and off
Natalie left the role of Sonia Fowler earlier this year (Image: BBC)
Former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has revealed that the late soap legend was her “oldest friend” who “liberates” the reception.
Actress Sonia Fowler left the BBC series earlier this year after playing the character on and off for more than 30 years.
Viewers saw Sonia leave Albert Square in Bali alongside her sister Bianca Jackson and daughters Bex and Hope Fowler.
Sonia’s departure came after she learned that her dad Terry Cant had a sinister motive just days after meeting him for the first time in her life.
Looking back on her time working in Walford, Natalie said she enjoyed working with many of the older actresses on the soap.
The 42-year-old stressed that she has always been connected to “the elders,” naming her late stars Barbara Windsor and June Brown as influences.
Speaking to Prima magazine, she said: “Obviously for the elders, because I’m an old soul.
“I always kept in touch with Wendy Richards and Barbara Windsor, and I would say June Brown was my favorite, oldest friend.”
Natalie with Dot Cotton actress June Brown (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes)
Care On actress Barbara is best known for her role as Queen Vic owner Peggy Mitchell from 1994 to 2016.
Sadly, Barbara passed away in 2020, aged 83, after living with Alzheimer’s disease since 2014, leaving soap fans around the world devastated.
Natalie shared many scenes with dot cotton actress June Brown, who had been associated with Eastenders since its first episode in 1985.
June passed away at the age of 95 in 2022, having last appeared on the soap just two years before her death.
Wendy Richards, another actress Natalie praised, died in 2009, three years after saying goodbye to the role of Sonia’s mother-in-law, Pauline Fowler.
Meanwhile, Natalie stated that while she wouldn’t want the hassle of returning to guest appearances on the soap, she enjoyed reinventing herself.
She explained, “Sonia is not the most glamorous of characters, bless her, but I wanted to stay true to her character, so I never got extensions or dyed my hair,” she told the magazine.
“She was just a worker who didn’t have a lot of money and worked for the NHS. But when I came away and got free, I just thought, ‘I want to be glam. I want to wear colorful nails. And just feel like me.’”
“I feel like my face has changed a bit since I left EastEnders because I was quite sad and depressed when I was playing Sonia or angry all the time. So I feel like my frown lines have kind of faded, which is quite nice.”
Natalie added: “I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I think turning 40 is a turning point. I think you know who you are, you know who your friends are and where you are in life. And for me, having been in this business for so long, I just had to be free and be open to everything.”
“EastEnders is a brilliant job, but when you’re there you’re chained. You know where you are and what you’re doing. But you don’t have time to plan anything else, so it takes over your whole life.”
While EastEnders would “always hold a special place” in her heart, Natalie announced that she was “relieved to leave” the programme.
