The actress opens up about the importance of teaching her daughters to stay true to themselves — and the emotional rollercoaster behind quitting Albert Square
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Having opened up about her struggles with body insecurities in the past, Natalie Cassidy is now in a better place. Fresh off her victory on Cooking With The Stars last month, where she beat reality TV star Jack Osbourne and interior designer Kelly Hoppen, it’s a major step forward for the former EastEnders actress, who’s in a healthier state of mind. In August, she went to Crete for a family holiday, where she happily indulged in the delicious Greek cuisine.
‘I ate such nice food on that holiday and just loved it. I’m obsessed with the spinach and feta pastries out there. I must have put on 10lbs because I didn’t stop eating them for 10 days solid,’ she tells Closer. ‘I love food and I love cooking. I’m constantly thinking about what I might eat next. I love restaurants, I love going shopping for food. I really love it all and I’m not prepared to give all that up.’
In 2007, Natalie, 42 – best known for playing trumpet-loving Sonia on the BBC soap – lost 4st in three months for her fitness DVD, Then & Now, for which she was paid £100,000. It’s a decision the actress, who was once called ‘Fat Nat’ by bullies, bitterly regrets.
Natalie (pictured with husband Marc and daughter Eliza) won Cooking With The Stars earlier this year ©Dave Benett/Getty Images for M&S Food
‘I think it f**ks with your metabolism, and mine got shot to pieces over the years. And it made me very aware of my weight, which is such a shame,’ she says. ‘I couldn’t have cared less about what I looked like before I did them. I was confident and always wore what I wanted. I was probably a size 16 and very happy. I ate what I wanted and really had a great time.
‘When that came along, I took it because, financially, it was great. Well, I thought it was at the time. I lost 4st in three months, which is a lot! It was a very arduous three months, but I felt good about myself. Then I piled all the weight back on. I just didn’t know how to keep it up, both mentally or physically. It just wasn’t sustainable for me.’
Nowadays Natalie – who has been engaged to cameraman Marc Humphreys since 2014 – has a healthier relationship with food. ‘I think your body has a set point. You can’t just not eat. You can overindulge on holiday and then it’s about getting back and being sensible. We all know when our clothes are a bit tight and once you’re not indulging every day, things will go down,’ she says.
Natalie left her role as Sonia in EastEnders earlier this year ©BBC
‘We’re all aware of what’s good for us and what suits us to eat. It’s all moderation, isn’t it? I like a drink as well. I really enjoy a glass of wine. I’m never going to be stick-thin, unfortunately, but that’s fine. I’d rather be able to enjoy all of those lovely things. More than anything, I don’t want to waste loads of money on clothes. I’ve got a lovely wardrobe of clothes and I don’t really want to go and buy different sizes.’
While she does intermittent fasting at times, Natalie says, ‘I eat well and very rarely eat processed rubbish. It’s always home cooking. This morning I bought some lovely steak and I’m going to make a meat pie at the weekend. Now the weather’s changed, I want cosy food.’
Natalie’s book Happy Days is out now ©Mark Hayman
She also leads a more active lifestyle, having run the London Marathon twice. ‘I love walking. I did two marathons but I don’t think I could do another one. I’d love to get back into running, but it’s a bit hard on my bones and on my knees.’
The actress’ mindset shifted after she became a mum to daughters Eliza, 16, and Joanie, nine. ‘I do talk to my girls a lot and say, “You’ve got to really enjoy being you. And yes, there’s going to be different shapes and different sizes,”’ she says. ‘I think you have to remember what’s important in life. I just think, “The people who love us don’t care about what we look like.”’
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Having been on our screens since she was 10 years old, Natalie left her role as EastEnders fan favourite Sonia in April. And with more spare time on her hands, she’s written her memoir, Happy Days. ‘I loved writing it,’ she says. ‘Doing the audiobook was amazing. It made it come to life and it was strangely therapeutic.’
After 32 years in Albert Square, it wasn’t an easy decision for Natalie to leave, but ultimately, she tells Closer it was the right thing to do.
‘You never know with these big decisions. It’s a huge thing to do,’ she tells Closer. ‘I deliberated for a long time. It wasn’t a snap decision. I’m pleased to be free. It was time for me to be a little bit more in control of my schedule.’
Happy Days by Natalie Cassidy (HQ, £20) is out now.
