Michelle Collins has expressed her disbelief at being part of EastEnders' 40th anniversary celebrations after stepping away from the show for 25 years. Collins famously portrayed Cindy Beale from 1988 until her character's off-screen demise in 1998. Returning for the anniversary, she reflects on her unexpected journey, her love for the character, and her growth as an actress. The EastEnders anniversary will kick off on February 17, 2025, with all episodes dropping at once, culminating in a special hour-long episode on February 19.
Cindy was originally only meant to be in the show for 11 episodes. And then she died, off-screen, in 1998 so no, I never imagined being here for the 40th. I'm so grateful I am, though. After those 11 episodes, my agent wanted me to come out and do other things, but I stayed because I loved playing Cindy.
I loved it for the first few years. When I came back in the '90s, I was in my early 30s and very ambitious, I never saw myself there for the future. Now I'm back again, I'm happier to stay.
I think I'm more comfortable in my own skin, more content, and I'm not running away all the time. I've certainly grown, and hopefully I'm a better actor.
Collection
[
|
...
]