EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy has revealed the truth about her decision to leave the soap after 30 years, saying she "doesn't miss" it.
Debuting on the Square as Sonia Fowler back in 1993, Natalie exited the soap in 2007 after 14 years. She made a number of guest appearances before returning permanently in 2014.
Back in January, the legendary soap star made the announcement that she was leaving the show after nearly three decades.
Opening up about her exit during a chat with fellow EastEnders star Kellie Bright on her Life with Nat podcast, Natalie said: "I don't miss it, I don't. I miss the people. It's full on."
Explaining her decision to leave, Natalie said it was based on her desire to spend more time with her family and to start a podcast.
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"I do feel happier doing the things I'm doing now," she said. "I always feel like I have to say it, I loved it, I'm grateful for it, but I did fall into it and that was that, and that's what I did for 30 years, I don't know if I was meant to do that."
Despite feeling happier now, Natalie said she loved getting scripts for EastEnders, saying: "I used to love it, I loved the prep, getting the scripts.
"I never got bored of getting a script. I never felt bored or thought, 'Oh, here we go, we've got to undo it all and do it my way and see what's happening'. I never lost that in all of those 32 years."
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Elsewhere in the interview, Natalie spoke about Kellie's character Linda Carter, saying: "Some of the things you did throughout Linda's alcoholism. I've never seen anything like it. I think you are such an incredible actress."
She continued: "I've cried. I've sat aghast in shock when I think about the level of acting and what you've achieved with Linda Carter."
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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