Natalie Cassidy played the role of Sonia Fowler for several stints on EastEnders between 1993 and 2025.
Her character left as part of the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations and she is now looking for new projects.
Cassidy has appeared on reality shows in the past, such as Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and The Masked Singer, but has decided to avoid similar programmes in the future.
#EastEnders‘ Natalie Cassidy opens up on why she left soap after 32 yearshttps://t.co/B5II8igzwi pic.twitter.com/lBxSFw92UB
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) March 26, 2025
Speaking exclusively to The Sun’s TV Mag, she said: “I always think about I’m A Celebrity and I just don’t know if I can do it as I’m such a scaredy-cat.
“I don’t like heights, I don’t like insects. I mean, I just think I’d be up every night, walking up to Ant and Dec, crossing that bridge for another trial.
“I don’t know if I could cope. And actually, I want to concentrate on some bigger projects.
“I’ve done Strictly which I loved, but your I’m A Celebs, your Dancing On Ices, if they’re still on telly, they’re kind of always there. I feel that now’s the time to do a few different things.
“I’ve always been honest – if I’ve got a very large tax bill and get offered an extreme amount of money, then you might see me in the jungle.
“But as it stands, I’m hoping to pick and choose a little bit more and just do a few projects for me.
“I’ve created other means with the podcasts, they’re doing very well, and I feel that I can now step out of EastEnders confidently.”
Natalie Cassidy discusses leaving EastEnders
Cassidy also shared that leaving behind Sonia Fowler was a difficult decision and one she agonised over for a while.
She explained: “It’s not a job to me, EastEnders. I’ve been there on and off for 32 years, and I’m only 42 this year.
“I was 10 when I started, so it really is my home. It’s a hard place to leave.
“There was a lot of thought over it, but it’s the right time and the right decision, I’m sure of it.
“I need to have a break and pursue all the other things that are going on. And if I didn’t make the decision now, I don’t know if I’d ever have made it.
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“With EastEnders, every week you’re waiting for a Thursday to know what you’re doing for the next week.
“You can’t book a theatre show, you can’t say to your children: ‘I’ll be there on sports day.’
“Now I can look at a diary and say: ‘I’m not working that day.’ I do feel that you have more freedom. I can plan!”
