Natalie Cassidy was photographed enjoying a morning walk in the Hertfordshire countryside with her sister-in-law on Tuesday as the actress continues to pivot from a decades-long tenure on EastEnders into radio and podcast work.
Cassidy, 42, smiled as she walked the trails dressed in black, wearing an H&M sweatshirt bearing the word "simplicite," while her sister-in-law Linda Cassidy, known as Linny, wore an all-white half-zip sweater and tracksuit bottoms. The outing came amid publicity surrounding comments Cassidy made about her past fitness DVDs and news of a forthcoming one-off show on Virgin Radio.
Speaking to Radio Times, Cassidy said the weight-loss DVDs she fronted — titled Then & Now and The Perfect Ten — were "not a good move" for her and that she took part for the money. She told the magazine she had been paid about £100,000 for the projects and reflected on body image at 42, saying: "I could be doing a bit more exercise at the moment, but I just can't be bothered. I think, 'If this is the size I'm meant to be, then I need to be happy with that.'"
Cassidy added that she does not "overeat" and favours moderation: "I enjoy my food. I like a glass of wine. I like a packet of crisps, but you can't do it every day. I think everything in moderation. If I go the other way and want to lose a lot of weight, my days aren't as good."
The actress, best known for portraying Sonia Fowler on the BBC One soap, first appeared on EastEnders in 1993 at age 10 and has returned to the programme multiple times over a 32-year span. Cassidy announced in January that she would be leaving the show after guesting for its 40th anniversary; her final scenes were scheduled to air in a Thursday episode following that return.
While stepping back from Albert Square, Cassidy has broadened her media profile. She co-hosts the Off The Telly podcast with Joanna Page and confirmed on Instagram that she will present a special one-off show on Virgin Radio on Easter Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Speaking from the Virgin Radio studios, she said she was "trying to branch out and do brave things" and described herself as "very honoured" to be given the opportunity.
Cassidy's comments about the DVDs and her weight reflect a wider conversation among entertainers about the pressures of image and commercial opportunities. Her candid remarks to Radio Times follow a pattern of performers reassessing past projects in light of personal well-being and career shifts.
Photographs of Cassidy's countryside walk circulated with coverage of her interview and radio plans, underscoring how her public profile now spans acting, podcasting and radio presenting as she transitions away from a long-running soap role.
Representatives for Cassidy did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.