Former EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy has shared her surprising "dream" ambition following her departure from the BBC soap after a monumental 32-year stint playing beloved character Sonia Fowler.
Life After Albert Square
Cassidy, who filmed her final scenes in April 2025 during the show's 40th-anniversary celebrations, is relishing her first festive season away from Walford. The actress, a mother of two, left the series in a major storyline that saw Sonia depart Albert Square with her sister, Bianca.
In an exclusive chat, she confessed to enjoying the novelty of being a viewer this Christmas. "I’m really looking forward to watching Christmas Day as a viewer - and not knowing what’s going on," Cassidy revealed. She also appreciates having more time to prepare for the holidays and be with her children, though she admits to missing the "very special" feeling of filming Christmas episodes on those cold October nights on set.
A New Comedy Ambition
Now embracing being "open" to new opportunities, Cassidy has disclosed a professional goal that may surprise her loyal fans. While she aims to exercise more for health reasons, her big hope is to break into comedy.
"I’d love to do more live shows," she said. "Comedy is a big hope for me, so if a sitcom comes along, that would be a dream." This marks a significant shift for the actress, who practically grew up on the dramatic cobbles of Albert Square.
Return to Walford? Not Yet
When questioned about a potential return to EastEnders, Cassidy was clear that it won't be happening in the immediate future. "Not anytime soon, no," she stated. "I only left in February, and it’s still very early days. I’m enjoying being open and doing different things."
However, she left the door firmly ajar, affectionately referring to the show as her "second home" and acknowledging it remains "very close to my heart," adding, "so... you never know."
The actress also weighed in on the trend of soap crossovers, following news of an upcoming Coronation Street and Emmerdale link-up. Intrigued by the concept, she thought a crossover between EastEnders and medical drama Casualty was a "brilliant idea" she would definitely watch.
Natalie Cassidy was speaking to Sky Bingo to discuss research into the nation's favourite Christmas TV moments.
