Natalie Cassidy
{{short description|English actress (born 1983)}}
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date = February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Natalie Cassidy
| image = Natalie Cassidy crop.jpg
| caption = Cassidy in 2011
| birth_name = Natalie Ann Cassidy
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|5|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Islington, London, England
| known_for = Role of Sonia Fowler in EastEnders
| children = 2
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|television personality}}
| yearsactive = 1990–present
}}
Natalie Ann Cassidy (born 13 May 1983){{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/natalie-cassidy/|title=Natalie Cassidy. Biography, news, photos and videos|website=hellomagazine.com|language=en|access-date=22 February 2019}} is an English actress and television personality. She is known for her role as Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom-horror series Psychoville in 2009 and was a contestant on the reality shows Strictly Come Dancing (2009), Celebrity Big Brother (2012) and The Masked Singer (2025).
Career
As a child, Cassidy attended the Anna Scher Theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/anna-scher-legendary-islington-theatre-teacher-and-one-time-gazette-writer-looks-back-on-half-century-of-drama-1-5141983|title=Anna Scher: Legendary Islington theatre teacher (and one-time Gazette writer) looks back on half century of drama|last=Dimitrova|first=Atina|website=Islington Gazette|language=en|access-date=22 February 2019}} She joined the cast of EastEnders in 1993, playing Sonia Jackson. In 2006, she played a rival to Lauren Cooper in an episode of the BBC Two comedy sketch series The Catherine Tate Show. On 9 April 2006, the BBC announced Cassidy's departure from EastEnders with her final scenes airing in February 2007. She then focused on work in the theatre, appearing in the UK tours of The Vagina Monologues, Bedroom Farce and Gertrude's Secret, as well as a run of The Cherry Orchard at the Chichester Festival Theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/charlotte-riley-becomes-star-stage-3814462|title=Charlotte Riley becomes star of stage and screen|date=3 November 2008|website=gazettelive|language=en|access-date=22 February 2019}}
Towards the end of 2007, Cassidy made headlines after losing a considerable amount of weight, and released a fitness DVD titled Natalie Cassidy's Then and Now Workout.{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/930997/scarlett-moffatt-davina-mccall-natalie-cassidy-charlotte-crosby-dvd-fitness-exercise|title=Which weight-loss DVDs are fit for purpose?|last=Reynolds|first=Mark|date=13 March 2018|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=22 February 2019}} In 2008, she starred in the BBC Three documentary Natalie Cassidy's Diet Secrets. In 2008, she was a regular panellist on Five's The Wright Stuff. Later that year, she again gained press coverage for giving up her diet and regaining weight.{{cite web|url= http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/tv-news/265234/natalie-cassidy-puts-on-weight-again/1/|title= Natalie Cassidy puts on weight again|publisher=Now Magazine|date=6 July 2008|access-date= 25 August 2009}} In 2009, Cassidy was cast in a supporting role in the BBC Two comedy television series Psychoville, alongside Dawn French and Eileen Atkins. She also provided the voice-over for BBC Three's Underage and Pregnant.
On 25 October 2009, it was announced that Cassidy would reprise her role as Sonia in EastEnders in 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a183438/the-jacksons-return-to-eastenders.html|title=The Jacksons return to 'EastEnders'|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=25 October 2009|access-date=25 October 2009}} She returned to the series for a short stint between 8 and 18 February 2010, and again for a single episode in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a293725/sonia-to-make-one-off-enders-return.html|title=Sonia to make one-off 'Enders return|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=17 December 2010|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hachette Filipacchi UK|access-date=17 December 2010|location=London}} In 2010, E4 announced that they would produce Cassidy's own reality show, Natalie Cassidy: Becoming Mum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sky.com/tv-guide|title=TV Guide|website=Sky}} On 5 January 2012, she participated in series nine of Celebrity Big Brother, and was the fifth housemate to be evicted. Prior to returning to EastEnders full-time, Cassidy was the host of The Health Lottery, a competition broadcast on Channel 5.{{Cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/311362/Natalie-Cassidy-the-new-face-of-The-Health-Lottery/amp|title=Natalie Cassidy...the new face of The Health Lottery|work=Daily Express|access-date=16 August 2020}} She made a permanent return to EastEnders in 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a541627/eastenders-carol-jackson-visits-daughter-sonia-spoiler-pictures/|title=EastEnders pictures: Carol visits Sonia|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|date=6 January 2014|website=Digital Spy}}
In August 2020, Cassidy appeared in the BBC comedy series Mandy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/eastenders-natalie-cassidy-diane-morgan-bbc-mandy-629615/amp/|title=This EastEnders LEGEND joins Diane Morgan in BBC comedy Mandy|work=What's on TV|access-date=16 August 2020}} She also guest-starred in a 2021 episode of the BBC sitcom Motherland.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2021/22/motherland|title=Motherland: Series 3, Ep. 4/5 – School Trip|publisher=BBC|access-date=14 February 2025}} In 2025, she competed in series six of The Masked Singer as Bush, reaching the semi-final.{{cite news|last=Berry|first=Joanna|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-masked-singers-bush-revealed-34641674|title=The Masked Singer double elimination sees Bush revealed as Natalie Cassidy|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=8 February 2025|access-date=14 February 2025}} Around the same time, she announced that she would again be leaving her role as Sonia in EastEnders.{{cite news |title=EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy quits role of Sonia after 32 years |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-natalie-cassidy-sonia-quit-newsupdate/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Radio Times}}
=''Strictly Come Dancing''=
In 2009, Cassidy signed up to compete in series seven of Strictly Come Dancing.{{Cite news|url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/a167840/natalie-cassidy-tipped-for-strictly.html|title= Natalie Cassidy tipped for 'Strictly'|publisher= Digital Spy|first= Daniel|last= Kilkelly|date= 28 July 2009|access-date= 25 August 2009}} She was partnered with professional Vincent Simone, and finished in fifth place.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Cassidy's Strictly Come Dancing performance | |||
| rowspan="2"| Week #
!rowspan="2"| Dance/song !colspan="4"| Judges' score !rowspan="2"| Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| style="width:10%;"| Craig Revel Horwood
!style="width:10%;"| Len Goodman !style="width:10%;"| Alesha Dixon !style="width:10%;"| Bruno Tonioli | |||
| 1
| Group Mambo |colspan="5"| Group performance – not judged | |||
| rowspan="2"| 2
| Tango / "Spider of the Night" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6
|rowspan="2"| 24, 26 (safe) |
| Cha Cha Cha / "Bang Bang"
| 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 3
| Paso Doble / "Malagueña" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7
| 28 (safe) |
| 4
| Salsa / "You'll Be Mine (Party Time)" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7
| 29 (safe) |
| 5
| Viennese Waltz / "At Last" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6
| 27 (safe) |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"
| 6 | American Smooth / "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7
| 29 (safe) |
| 7
| Jive / "Good Golly Miss Molly" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8
| 30 (safe) |
| 8
| Quickstep / "Tu Vuo' Fa L'Americano" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8
| 31 (safe) |
| 9
| Foxtrot / "Magic Moments" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8
| 34 (safe) |
| 10
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 5
| 26 (safe) |
| 11
| Rock and Roll / "Long Tall Sally" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7
| 26 (eliminated) |
In popular culture
In 2012, the Channel 4 comedy show Very Important People featured a spoof reality show segment entitled "Natalie Cassidy Is Doing This Now", which showed its subject engaged in various menial and humorous situations, for example hosing out bins, sorting through old pens, and taking her spare change to Coinstar. The role of Natalie Cassidy was played by comedian Morgana Robinson. Robinson also appeared as Cassidy in an episode of the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown in 2019.
In 2013, she was also impersonated by impressionist Philip Green on series seven of Britain's Got Talent.{{cite web|last=Fletcher|first=Alex|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a480356/got-talent-impressionist-gets-big-laughs-as-cassidy-spence-watch/|title='Got Talent' impressionist gets big laughs as Cassidy, Spence – watch|website=Digital Spy|date=10 May 2013|access-date=15 February 2025}}
Personal life
Between 2009 and 2013, Cassidy was in an on-off relationship with Adam Cottrell, a transport manager from Bristol. They have a daughter together. In 2011, Cottrell was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to assault and criminal damage for attacking Cassidy at their home in Hertfordshire.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2011/06/22/natalie-cassidys-ex-adam-cottrell-given-two-year-restraining-order-52569/|title=Natalie Cassidy's ex Adam Cottrell given two-year restraining order|website=Metro|last=Duncan|first=Amy|date=22 June 2011|access-date=14 January 2022}} He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting Cassidy for two years.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-13855949|title=Natalie Cassidy fiance Adam Cottrell sentenced for assault|website=BBC|date=21 June 2011|access-date=14 January 2022}} They reunited and became engaged, after Cassidy gave him a "sober up or leave" ultimatum, but they split up permanently in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/13/natalie-cassidy-engaged-adam-cottrell_n_3265211.html|title=Natalie Cassidy Engaged To Abusive Ex Adam Cottrell|website=Huffington Post|last=Percival|first=Ashley|date=13 May 2013|access-date=14 January 2022}}
Since 2014, Cassidy has been in a relationship with cameraman Marc Humphreys. In October 2015, it was announced that the couple were engaged, and a few months later, on 13 February 2016, Cassidy revealed she was pregnant with her second child.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Nat_Cassidy/status/698266390990561281|title=Evening all... Time to let everybody know that @cameramarc and I are having a baby in the summer. The three musketeers become four.|first=Natalie|last=Cassidy|date=12 February 2016}} She gave birth to their daughter in August 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/30/natalie-cassidy-celebrates-birth-of-baby-girl/|title=Natalie Cassidy celebrates birth of baby girl|first=Adam|last=Boult|date=30 August 2016|work=The Telegraph}}
In January 2019, it was announced that she would be running the London Marathon with some of her EastEnders co-stars for a dementia campaign in honour of their former castmate Barbara Windsor.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46794236 |title=EastEnders stars to run marathon for Dame Barbara Windsor |date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |access-date=8 January 2019}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Television ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1993–2007, 2010–2011, 2014–2025 | rowspan="2"| Sonia Fowler | Regular role |
| 1999
| Charity special |
| 2004
| Natalie Cassidy Goes Wild in Australia | Herself | Documentary |
| 2006
| Cheerleader | Episode: "1951–2006" |
| rowspan="2"| 2008
| Natalie Cassidy's Diet Secrets | rowspan="2"| Herself | Documentary |
| The Wright Stuff
| Regular panellist |
| rowspan="4"| 2009
| Things Talk | Sofa / Satsuma | Voice role |
| Psychoville
| Lorraine | 2 episodes |
| Natalie Cassidy's Real Britain
| Presenter | 6 episodes |
| Strictly Come Dancing
| rowspan="4"| Herself | Series 7 contestant |
| 2010
| Natalie Cassidy: Becoming Mum | Main role |
| 2009–2011
| Underage and Pregnant | Narrator; 22 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Series 9 contestant |
| Crime Stories
| Hannah Stevenson | Series 1, episode 15 |
| 2020
| Mandy | Donna Ball | Episode: "Broadsword to Donna Ball" |
| rowspan="2"| 2021
| Herself | Episode: "BeastEnders" |
| Motherland
| Ms Vaughn | Episode: "School Trip" |
| 2022
| The Train{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2022/bbc-studios-and-baby-cow-productions-announce-two-brand-new-comedy-shorts-set-to-debut-online|title=BBC Studios and Baby Cow Productions announce two brand new comedy shorts set to debut online|publisher=BBC|date=27 September 2022|access-date=15 February 2025}} | Passenger | Web miniseries; episode: "Autumn" |
| rowspan="2"| 2025
| Herself / Bush | Series 6 contestant |
| Boarders
| Sharon Hail | Series 2, episode 5 |
| class="wikitable"
|+Video ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 2007
| Natalie Cassidy's Then and Now Workout | Herself / Presenter | Fitness DVD |
Awards and nominations
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{British Soap Award for Best Actress}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Natalie}}
Category:Actresses from London
Category:Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School
Category:British Soap Award for Best Actress winners
Category:English child actresses
Category:English soap opera actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:English television presenters
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Islington