Shaping up nicely

Former EastEnder Natalie Cassidy on coming to Belfast and the real reason behind her new toned body

Theatre-goers will see a lot less of former EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy during her forthcoming visit to Belfast.

The actress, famous for her role as Sonia in the BBC soap, is all over the gossip mags once again after revealing a new super-toned figure during the touring production of Alan Ayckbourn's play, A Bedroom Farce, which is at The Grand Opera House from May 21 - 28.

But the 23-year-old Londoner insists that her new shape is the result of having more time to devote to a healthy lifestyle and not as unkind reports have suggested, because she fears being typecast in dowdy Sonia-like roles.

"Since I left EastEnders last November, I've had a lot more time to look after myself and pay more attention to diet and things like that," Natalie told Sunday Life.

"I'm never going to starve myself because it's just not in me to do so. I'll stick with the boring healthy regime of five small meals a day, lots of fruit and veg and some exercise."

You would think that almost six months after leaving the soap and having kept a low-profile, Press interest in Natalie would have waned slightly. Not so, it seems.

"It's actually got worse," she laughs. "I think they're interested in seeing what I'm up to and what I'm going to do next.

"But you deal with that interest and if you want to have a low-key night out, you don't go to places where Press cameras are likely to be.

"I don't believe those people who complain that they get followed everywhere and it's a nightmare. Just don't go out to clubs where you know the Press are going to be waiting outside.

"Just go down to the local pub and have a few pints."

However, Natalie does admit that the constant attention paid to her weight does get to her. "It always does, of course it does. But you try not to let it. When I was growing up, I was on screen and going through adolescence. I had to block it out as best I could, but weight issues are something that every woman is obsessed with.

"For the past while, I've made a conscious effort to eat healthily and take some exercise and do the best I can."

Natalie has visited Belfast only once before to appear on the John Daly show and is looking forward to spending a week in the city.

"When I came over for the show, I flew in and flew out again, which was a pity.

"I plan to see a lot more of Northern Ireland this time," she says.

The comedy Bedroom Farce is an ingenious play about relationships and DIY and also stars James Midgley from Cutting It and Beth Cordingly, who recently left ITV police drama, The Bill.

"I'm loving every minute of this play," says Natalie. It's really, really different. Theatre is just a whole new craft. The job satisfaction that you get after making people laugh is wonderful.

"And although it's terrifying performing in front of a live audience, it's a good terror and I really love it."

Natalie was an EastEnders cast member for 13 years. She joined the soap when she was only 10-years-old (the same age at which she started attending the Anna Sher Theatre School) and during her time in the soap had to act out some incredibly harrowing storylines.

Was it hard to get out of character at the end of the day?

"Yes. it was very hard at times and it sometimes got to the point where it got you down a little, but that's the job and you have to learn to deal with it.

"Every story that I got, although harrowing, was fantastic, so I was grateful to the writers for giving me such good material. And I enjoyed all of them, but the plot I enjoyed the most had to be Sonia giving birth.

"I was 15, and at that time in EastEnders, Sonia was just Robbie and Bianca's sister, but once she had a baby, she came into her own and became a major character in the show.

"I loved that storyline and I got an award for it at the Soap Awards.

"I grew up on EastEnders and it was like a family. I still keep in touch with everyone, especially James Alexandrou, who played Martin, because we're like brother and sister having worked together for so long."

So after Bedroom Farce, what does Natalie plan to do next?

"I'd really love to do a period play or a TV drama set in Dickensian times - something like that. Or even a great modern-day drama.

"That's the brilliant thing now, I'm open to offers.

"I'm doing this play until August and who knows what's next. I might even just go on holiday for a while."

But will Sonia ever make a return to Albert Square?

"Never say never," laughs Natalie. "I decided to leave because I'm now almost 24-years-old and I wanted to experience different roles, but the door has very kindly been left open for me, so you never know. "