EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy has reopened her long-running rift with singer Paloma Faith, standing firm on claims that she was bullied at school — and suggesting jealousy over her early TV fame may have been the cause.

The 42-year-old actress, best known for playing Sonia Fowler, revisited the emotional topic during her appearance on Katherine Ryan’s podcast What’s My Age Again this week. Natalie described her school years as “difficult,” saying she always felt more at home on the EastEnders set than in the classroom.

“There wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to be,” she shared. “That was my happy place. Maybe because when I wasn’t there, school was difficult — people were jealous. You know, there was bullying that went on.”

Although Natalie didn’t mention Paloma by name in this latest interview, the remarks come months after she publicly accused the chart-topping singer of bullying her when they both attended Islington Green School in north London.

The Row That Shocked Fans

Back in June, Natalie made headlines after revealing on her Life with Nat podcast that Paloma had “bullied” her during their school days.

“Paloma Faith, she bullied me at school,” she claimed. “She went to Islington Green and was in the year above me. We’ve spoken about it since and she’s said sorry about that. Gutted.”

The comments caused an immediate stir online — not least because, just days later, Paloma’s own past comments about being bullied herself resurfaced.

Paloma’s Side of the Story

In a 2012 tweet, Paloma wrote:

“Yes, I got bullied at school. I had braces and before that, wonky teeth.”

She’s also previously described her school as a “very, very rough” place where “the police were there every day” and “there was a lot of violence.” Far from being a tormentor, Paloma has said the experience made her resilient:

“It helped me develop a strong sense of self. I had to learn to stick to my guns and be stubborn.”

The 43-year-old singer, who grew up in Hackney, has never directly responded to Natalie’s renewed comments — but the contrast between their accounts has reignited fan debate about what really happened in those Islington Green corridors.

Fame, Jealousy, and Growing Pains

Natalie, who landed her EastEnders role as Sonia Fowler at just ten years old, admitted that fame at such a young age made her school life complicated. “People were jealous,” she said simply, explaining how her success set her apart from her classmates.

Now renamed City of London Academy Islington, the school has an infamous past — from its choir’s feature on Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” to being placed in special measures under Tony Blair’s government.

Life Beyond Walford

After three decades on EastEnders, Natalie recently departed the soap in an emotional storyline that saw Sonia leave Walford for Bali with her sister Bianca and daughters Bex and Julia. Reflecting on her decision, the actress told fans she wanted to “be brave” and try new things after turning 42.

“I’ve loved this programme with all my heart,” she said. “I started at ten — it’s in my bones, it’s in my heart.”

While Natalie embarks on a new chapter, her remarks about Paloma have once again lit up social media — with fans split between sympathy and disbelief. One thing’s certain: decades later, the drama between these two famous former classmates is still far from over.