Just when fans were beginning to say goodbye to Sonia Fowler, Natalie Cassidy has already left the door ajar for a comeback.
The 41-year-old actress, who first stepped onto Albert Square at the age of 10, bid farewell to EastEnders on Thursday night (April 17) in what seemed like a heartfelt final appearance. But mere hours later, she teased that this might not be the last we see of Sonia.
In a video shared on the soap’s official Instagram page, Natalie told fans:
“Thank you for watching Sonia, I love her with all my heart and you never know what’s going to happen.”
She also confessed she’ll remain hooked to the show: “I’m the show’s biggest fan.”
The emotional clip gave viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her final day on set. In it, Natalie can be heard saying:
“So the day and time has come for Sonia to leave the Square. It’s all a bit last minute, it’s all a bit of a rush but it’s time for a new adventure. You know how much I love you all, I’m really going to miss you all, and I really don’t like speeches, so thank you.”
Her exit storyline saw Sonia jet off to Bali with daughter Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) and sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), marking a double farewell for two beloved characters. Patsy, who also exited the show, called the shared departure “absolutely amazing” and “really special and lovely.”
Natalie’s decision to step away from EastEnders comes as she prioritizes time with her daughters, Eliza, 14, and Joanie, eight. Though she previously hinted the exit felt final, even telling Radio Times that “a fresh start starts to feel appealing,” this latest update has fans hopeful Sonia’s story isn’t over just yet.
And in Walford, no one is ever truly gone.
