EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy, famed for her long-standing role as Sonia Fowler, is gearing up to depart from the streets of Walford after an incredible 32-year run.
At 41, the actress has been a fixture on Albert Square ever since the memorable entrance of the Jackson family in 1993, which saw Patsy Palmer introduce the fiery Bianca.
Sonia's life has been anything but calm over the last year, beginning with the revelation that her partner Reiss Colwell (portrayed by Jonny Freeman) was secretly married to his comatose wife Debbie.
Driven by a desire to have their own children, Reiss siphoned off Debbie's finances to pay for IVF, which proved successful as Sonia became pregnant.
However, their happiness was crushed when Reiss committed murder, taking Debbie's life and framing Sonia. Wrongfully imprisoned while expecting, Sonia eventually walked free once Reiss was unveiled as the true criminal, reports Leeds Live.
But tragedy struck again during February when Reiss met his end in a collision at The Queen Vic, coinciding with the death of Sonia's former spouse Martin Fowler (played by James Bye) and the birth of her daughter, Julia, all on the same harrowing evening.
Overwhelmed by her ordeal, Sonia is set to say her goodbyes to the Square as she seeks respite from the relentless drama.
Confirming her departure from the show, Natalie Cassidy said: "After another 11 solid years back on the square, I have decided it's time to move on to pastures new."
She also expressed her enduring affection for the soap, saying: "EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show."
Natalie's acting career kicked off in the early '90s, featuring on a host of beloved TV shows, among them The Catherine Tate Show, Psychoville, and Motherland, while also showing her versatility with a recent appearance in the BBC drama Boarders.
Yet it's her time spent in Albert Square that has brought her significant praise, earning her British Soap Awards in both 2001 and 2004 for her memorable performances on EastEnders.
Beyond her iconic soap role, Natalie has cultivated a respected presence on the stage, captivating audiences with her roles in productions like Bedroom Farce, Gertrude's Secret, and The Cherry Orchard.
Not limited to acting, Natalie graced the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing back in 2009, then secured an eighth-place finish in Celebrity Big Brother in 2012. More recently, she appeared as Bush in the latest series of ITV's The Masked Singer.
Long-time EastEnders viewers have literally watched Natalie grow up on screen—transforming from the mischievous teenage Sonia, pining after Jamie Mitchell (played by Jack Ryder), into a stalwart figure of British TV drama.
Hailing from Islington, North London, where she was born on May 13, 1983, Natalie displayed an early knack for performance, which she opted to hone at the prestigious Anna Scher Theatre.
When she's not gracing the screen on EastEnders, Natalie keeps things low-key at her Hertfordshire home with her fiancé, who works as an EastEnders cameraman, Marc Humphreys, and their daughter Joanie. She's also mum to teenager Eliza, from her previous relationship with ex-fiancé Adam Cottrell.
The romance between Natalie and Marc sparked in 2014 when they met on the EastEnders set, with the pair announcing their engagement in October 2015. Their family expanded with the arrival of their daughter Joanie in August 2016.
Keeping their personal life out of the spotlight is key for this couple, though they occasionally delight followers with some sweet snapshots on social media.
Wedding plans are definitely on the agenda for Natalie, who envisages a cozy London ceremony. "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," she revealed.
Opening up to OK! Magazine, Natalie shared her affection for her Hertfordshire haven, labelling it her "happy place" and voicing her pride. Speaking of her tenure at 'EastEnders', she recounted it as "it's been nothing but an amazing joy."
The past years have seen Natalie confront personal loss too, as she lamented the passing of her dad Charles nearly four years ago. In an emotional post in May 2021, Natalie took to Instagram to impart the news of her father's demise, along with a heartfelt statement.
Accompanying a heartfelt selfie with her father Charles, she penned: "I've been very quiet the last few weeks. I lost my precious daddy three weeks ago today. I wasn't really going to do this post, but I felt I can't come on here and be a k**b without letting everyone know that my life has changed."
She continued: "He was my whole world and I'm not sure what I'm going to do without him. All I know is my family, friends and work will make it easier. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life.
"It really is at these times you realise how important relationships are and company and friendship and love is so important. Losing anyone is hard. The NEVER seeing someone again is cruel. But it's part of life. And we go on and have our memories."
Natalie ended her emotional update stating: "Charles William Cassidy 1937-2021. The best dad and grandad in the world. We miss you so much but we have each other because of you."
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am
English (United States) ·