Natalie Cassidy says her 'husband' was 'someone I'd never have gone for before'
Natalie Cassidy met her "husband" Marc Humphreys on the BBC soap - where he works as a cameraman - in 2013, and they dated in 2014 and got engaged in 2015.
Natalie Cassidy had "never have gone for" someone like her "husband" before.
The former EastEnders actress met Marc Humphreys on the BBC soap - where he works as a cameraman - in 2013, and they started dating in 2014, and then got engaged in 2015.
Natalie - who appears to now call Marc her "husband" - explained in the new issue of My Weekly magazine: "I met my husband Marc, who's a cameraman on EastEnders, when I was 30.
"I'd been through a bad time with my ex-partner, and Marc was just solid.
"He was someone I'd never have gone for before - a bit shy, very kind and with nothing to prove.
"We hit it off straight away. He's my best mate."
The star was in an on-off relationship with 45 year old Adam Cottrell.
In 2011, he was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage for attacking Natalie in their top-floor flat in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting her for two years.
However, they later reunited and got engaged after Natalie told him to "sober up or leave", but they split permanently in 2013.
Natalie - who has daughters Eliza, 15, with Adam, and nine year old Joanie with Marc - says she feels her happiest when at home with Marc and her children.
She said: "I'm a real homebird. It's where I'm happiest.
"I'm enjoying working from home for my podcast and being around for my daughters.
"My eldest is 15 now, and it's such a pivotal age.
"I feel like she needs me more now than she did as a toddler."
Since having children, Natalie - who bid farewell to Albert Square in April after playing National Health Service (NHS) nurse Sonia Fowler, on-and-off, for 32 years - says she has become more "body positive".
The actress explained: "As a young adult, I had to deal with a lot of negative press about my appearance, particularly my weight. It really messed with my head.
"But having two daughters makes you want to be body positive."
And Natalie is hoping Eliza and Joanie will read her newly-released memoir, Happy Days.
She said: "I've dedicated my memoir Happy Days to my daughters, and it would be lovely if they read it.
"It'll be something they can keep, a reference point.
"I wish I had one from my parents."
