Natalie Cassidy has candidly admitted that she feels she does not belong in the entertainment industry, despite spending more than three decades as one of the UK's most recognisable soap stars. The 43-year-old actress, who left EastEnders in April 2025 after playing Sonia Fowler on and off since 1993, opened up about the challenges of stepping away from the role that made her a household name.
Life After Albert Square
Speaking to Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Cassidy reflected on her decision to leave Walford and the difficulties of moving on from a character she had portrayed for over 30 years. Thornton noted that few actors manage to leave a long-running soap and build successful careers elsewhere, telling Cassidy: "Look, you know, not a lot of people leave Albert Square in the back of a cab and are not ever heard off again, right? Not so much you, my friend."
Thornton added: "You are one of the handful that have managed to go on and scale new heights outside of what should have been a role that defined you and stopped you working elsewhere because 30 years, I mean, I'm amazed you wake up even knowing who you are, not thinking that you're Sonia."
A Deliberate Choice to Stay Visible
Cassidy acknowledged the difficulty of leaving a soap after such a long tenure, but expressed pride in how she had navigated her career. She explained that throughout her time on EastEnders, she deliberately continued appearing on quiz shows and giving interviews, rather than hiding behind her character. "So throughout all the years of playing Sonia, I've always done a quiz show or I like being interviewed," she said.
When Thornton remarked, "Yeah, you've never hidden behind her," Cassidy agreed, adding: "No, and a lot of actors do." She elaborated: "Absolutely right. But there are lots and lots of actors who, that's why they act. They want to hide behind something, you know."
Feeling Out of Place in the Industry
Despite her long-running success, Cassidy made a candid admission about how she views the entertainment industry. She said: "And that is talent and being on time and professionalism and all of that. But I also always look around this industry and go, I don't really belong here."
When Thornton asked whether she was still waiting for "the tap on the shoulder," Cassidy clarified that it was not a question of confidence in her abilities. She explained: "No, it's not a kind of, I don't feel that I'm not good enough to be here. I just find that there's a lot of people with a lot of egos and I could have easily just worked in a shop."
A Career Spanning Three Decades
Cassidy first appeared in EastEnders as Sonia Fowler in 1993, after making her professional acting debut as a child in a production of The Beggar's Opera. She remained one of the soap's best-known stars, playing the character on and off for more than 30 years before departing in April 2025. Since leaving Walford, she has remained busy with several projects, including her podcast Life with Nat and the BBC documentary series Natalie Cassidy: Learning to Care, which saw her train to become a carer.
