Natalie Cassidy, best known for her role as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders, has revealed that creating a workout DVD in 2007 was a major career regret. The actress, who joined the BBC soap at age 10, spoke candidly about the experience on Good Morning Britain.
Confession on Good Morning Britain
Appearing on the ITV programme alongside hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid, Cassidy described the fitness video as a 'huge mistake.' She explained that she had never been overly concerned with her weight before the project, saying: 'I was very happy-go-lucky, didn't get on a scale, didn't do anything. I was offered that job, go and do it, earn loads of money and lose loads of weight.'
She added: 'I did that job, lost loads of weight and put it all back on again. It was really hard, which is why this campaign, what I'm doing at the moment, is really important to me.'
Feeling Alone After the DVD
Cassidy admitted that the aftermath of the DVD release left her feeling isolated. 'I felt very alone after the DVD. I felt very alone. The job finished, and I was on my own. I wish I had someone to talk to, somewhere to go, wherever that would be,' she said.
When Ed Balls asked what advice someone should have given her at the time, she replied: 'That it will change, you'll start having food noise.'
Broader Conversation on Weight
Susanna Reid noted the shifting cultural attitudes toward weight, with body positivity movements followed by the rise of weight loss drugs. Cassidy emphasised the importance of honest conversations: 'The culture changes and shifts every 10 years; we have those ups and downs. But, I think what I'm saying is, it's about being able to talk to somebody, be it a friend, family member, whoever, about how you're feeling.'
She continued: 'How things are making you feel. It's not just about getting on the scale and seeing a number and keeping that within you, feeling depressed all day and worrying about what you're going to eat. We should have conversations about it.'
Cassidy's Recent Work
Since her most recent exit from EastEnders last year, Cassidy has focused on documentary work, including the BBC series Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together, where she trains to become a qualified carer. The actress has played Sonia Fowler on and off since 1993.
