After three decades in EastEnders, Natalie Cassidy bid farewell to Albert Square earlier this year, leaving behind her much-loved character Sonia Fowler. But the soap star has now admitted there’s one thing that could tempt her back to Walford—though fans shouldn’t get their hopes up for a full-time return.

A Liberating Exit

Cassidy first stepped into the role of Sonia in 1993, growing up on-screen and becoming one of the Square’s most enduring characters. In January, she shocked fans by announcing her decision to leave the show, with her final scenes airing in April.

Reflecting on her departure, Cassidy told Prima: “It’s been freeing leaving EastEnders. I feel liberated and just happy.” She explained that the demanding filming schedule often left her evenings consumed with learning scripts, adding: “Now my evenings are free, unless I’m recording a podcast at home.”

The Door Left Slightly Open

While Cassidy says she’s relishing her new chapter, she hasn’t closed the door completely on Walford. She admitted a special storyline could tempt her back temporarily: “Albert Square will always hold a place in my heart… There could be a storyline where I come back for a week – those things are great.”

Reinvention Beyond Sonia

Since leaving the soap, Cassidy has embraced new opportunities. She recently won the fifth season of Cooking with the Stars and shared how liberating it has been to step away from Sonia’s image. “Sonia isn’t the most glamorous of characters, bless her… I wanted to stay true to her character, so I never got extensions put in, or dyed my hair. She was just a worker who didn’t have a lot of money.”

Cassidy admitted she feels like she has finally been able to reinvent herself after 30 years in the same role: “I always feel like I have to say it, I loved it, I’m grateful for it, but I did fall into it and that was that, and that’s what I did for 30 years. I don’t know if I was meant to do that.”

What’s Next?

For now, Cassidy seems content building a life outside Walford. But her comments will fuel speculation that Sonia Fowler could one day make a dramatic return—if only for a short stint that would give fans one more taste of the character they’ve grown up with.