Natalie Cassidy kept Sonia Fowler's trumpet after EastEnders exit
Natalie Cassidy reveals that Sonia Fowler's trumpet was the only item she took with her following her departure from EastEnders earlier this year.
Natalie Cassidy took Sonia Fowler's trumpet home when she left EastEnders.
The 42-year-old actress bowed out of the BBC soap earlier this year after 22 on-and-off years of playing Sonia and was more concerned about taking the instrument famously played badly by her alter ego than any of the character's clothing.
Quizzed on which possessions she had taken, Natalie told Bella magazine: "Only my trumpet. I didn't want any of her clothes.
"Once I'd left, I dyed my hair red and had my eyebrows micro-bladed, so I'll never have to use a pencil again."
Natalie hasn't ruled out a return to EastEnders completely but is enjoying the freedom she has away from Walford at the moment.
The star – who has penned her new autobiography Happy Days – said: "Well, never say never.
"I had an eight-year break and then came back after 12 years. They've now been kind enough to say the door remains open.
"At the moment, I'm just enjoying the freedom of being able to plan a bit more."
Natalie has been in a relationship with cameraman Marc Humphreys for a decade and is planning to walk down the aisle with her fiance at some point in the future.
The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant – who has daughters Joanie, nine, with Marc and Eliza, 15, from her previous relationship with Adam Cottrell – explained: "We met 10 years ago this month and Marc is turning 40, so this would have been the perfect time.
"But I'm too busy publicising the book. It'll happen sooner or later. Marc's the one I want to grow old with."
Cassidy added: "We're friends and we laugh all the time. When he's off working, I miss him.
"We like being together. He's made me find who I am, the real me."
Natalie revealed that she is hoping to land a sitcom role and participate in The Celebrity Traitors in the future.
Asked where she wants to be in 10 years time, she said: "I'd love to be cooking in my kitchen after a four-week holiday in Italy having already learned to speak Italian.
"I'd like a regular role in a sitcom, and I hope I'd still be doing my podcast, Life with Nat.
"Oh, and if the right people are reading this, I'd love to be on Celebrity Traitors. Please!"
