EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap for over three decades, has opened up about her career dreams
Natalie Cassidy, best known for her role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, was a fixture on our telly screens for over three decades until she departed the soap last February. She described the move as “freeing”, allowing her to explore new ventures.
One of these could be a fresh career in stand-up comedy, as she’s revealed her ultimate dream is “5 minutes of stand-up at a pub”. The 42-year-old expressed, “I find it absolutely fascinating that idea of standing on stage on your own – and your job is to make people laugh”.
In a live podcast chat with comedian Rebecca Maree, part of the new In Conversation series, the soap legend admitted the concept both excites and scares her.
“I’d s*** my pants. But I’d love to do five minutes in a pub. I would. My style would probably very anecdotal – probably funny stories about my kids, that would be my thing,” reports the Mirror.
“I would love to be in Motherland, it’s just hilarious – I was a guest star, actually, in Series 3. Or a real old-school sitcom, like Gimme, Gimme, Gimme or Friday Night Dinner.
“Sitcoms are my thing, and I do think they’re making a comeback. I would love to be a part of them for the first time.”
Regardless of what the future brings, down-to-earth Natalie will always be warmly remembered by thousands for her portrayal of Sonia on Albert Square, who transformed from a trumpet-playing teen mum to one of the more mature, albeit nosy, middle-aged residents of Walford.
Reflecting on her career, she cites Sonia’s shocking birth scene at just 15 years old to a baby girl, Chloe – fathered by Martin Fowler (James Alexandrou) – as her most memorable moment.
“It has to be Sonia giving birth on a sofa. But Sonia was in labour and didn’t even know she was pregnant. And what I’ve since realised is, that actually happens a lot in life. More than you’d think. People just come up to me you know and say, ‘I did a Sonia!” and tell me their birth stories.””
She also fondly remembers working with late, legendary actors such as June Brown, Peggy Mitchell and Wendy Richard, she shared with Australian-born, London-based comedian Maree.
“They were all just brilliant. . I look back now and realise, you don’t know what you’ve got. I was really good friends with those people. They’re not with us anymore, but I was so honoured to have had their advice, their care, share laughs with them. They were great memories.”
Over the years, the star has branched out. During a hiatus from EastEnders between 2007 and 2014., she participated in Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, alongside the late American actor Michael Madsen and X Factor star, Frankie Cocozza.
Her stint was short-lived and it’s clear she didn’t enjoy the experience, as she criticises some celebrities’ inflated egos. “It’s like being in the jungle – what a hoo ha that was, eh?! You do just chat shi* and forget you’re on the telly.
“But I was very lucky. I went in, got dyed blue, had some boiled eggs and came out early. There are a lot of people who have egos so big.
“I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years, but I’ve never changed. I have no ego. So, it blows my mind that you meet people who think they’re better than others. We’re just trying to entertain.. We’re not arduous workers. We’re not NHS workers. We’re not carers. I’m like, “Chill the f*** out.””
The most significant piece of advice she’d give her younger self, she said, is “don’t trust everybody. Don’t be so kind. A lot of people have maybe taken me for granted, because I am a nice person. I’m happy to say that now.'”
Natalie has two daughters, Eliza, 16, with former partner Adam Cottrell, and nine-year-old Joanie with her fiancé, cameraman Marc Humphreys. And she expressed her concerns about the world we currently inhabit, particularly for her teenager.
“When I was young, I’d go down the canal, drink a bottle of white lightning beer – it didn’t go any further. We had no photos. It’s a scary world now, literally everything is documented.
“If you go to a party now, it’s unfair on the young people. If someone’s boob pops out, at school the next day, it goes all round. I worry for Eliza – for our teens, now. As much as social media’s a huge problem, having the phones out and capturing everything is a bigger problem.
“And there’s lots of hate, lots of comparing yourself to others. My favourite saying has always been, ‘What people think of you is none of your business’.”
The proud mum, who hosts her own weekly podcast, Life With Nat, is also the first to acknowledge that parenthood is far from a walk in the park.
She said, “Being a mum’s probably been my biggest challenge. It’s realising that your life is not your own, because it isn’t, and that is a huge thing to undertake.”
“I think people really underestimate parenting. I absolutely love it. But it’s hard work, I’m not afraid to say that.”
