EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy reveals how she really feels about Sonia’s trumpet jokes
"I think that's brilliant."
EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has shared her feelings on Sonia’s trumpet jokes. While known for many famous moments and storylines during her time on the soap, one of Sonia’s most iconic aspects was her (rather poor) trumpet playing.
The musical endeavour has sparked many loving prods over the years, though Natalie has said she finds the running jokes and the way fans see her in general as Sonia as “brilliant”.
“People come up to me to have a chat, take a picture, and I don’t resent any of it,” she told The Independent. “Why would I be bitter if people think Sonia’s all I’ve done? Or if all they do is mention the trumpet? I think that’s brilliant.
BBC
“Some people would be annoyed about that. They wouldn’t want to mention it. But I don’t think I’ve ever taken myself too seriously.”
Natalie also revealed that she is a big fan of comedian Morgana Robinson’s famous “just doing this now” impression of her.
“I’m a very glass-half-full person and I’ve got a thick skin, and I’ve never really cared what people think of me, or what gets written about me,” she added.
The actor left EastEnders in 2025 after playing Sonia on-and-off since 1993, though has been keeping busy since, appearing on the likes of The Masked Singer as well as fronting recent BBC documentary series Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together.
BBC
Speaking in June about a potential return, however, she told The Guardian: “A lot of actors are very bitter about their soap origins… I just see a character who has given me so much.
“That’s why I’ve been able to leave again in a really amicable manner, and why maybe I’ll go back once more. I love Sonia, and the trumpet. All of her is a part of me.”
