EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy opens up about regrets from £100,000 weight loss DVD deal

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has opened up about the regrets she has regarding a £100,000 deal she made in 2007 to film weight loss DVDs. In an interview on This Morning, the actress, best known for her role as Sonia Fowler, admitted that taking the deal was a “mistake.”

Cassidy revealed that she felt pressured to lose weight for the DVDs, which led her to unhealthy habits such as extreme dieting and daily training. However, once the DVDs were released, she found herself unable to maintain the weight loss and quickly put the weight back on.

In a podcast interview in 2022, the actress spoke candidly about the experience, saying, “I was very overweight and they approached me and said ‘Listen, we’re going to give you £100,000, we’re going to get you really fit and you’re going to lose four stone.’ I just thought, that’s a lot of money; but it wasn’t the right thing to do.”

Despite the challenges she faced with the weight loss DVDs, Cassidy has since completed the London Marathon twice, in honor of her late co-star Dame Barbara Windsor. She shared her journey on Instagram, encouraging others to pursue their goals.

Reflecting on her journey, Cassidy has learned to prioritize healthy habits such as eating well, exercising, and drinking plenty of water. She has embraced her body and feels at ease with herself as she has gotten older.

Natalie Cassidy’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing overall health and well-being over societal pressures to conform to certain standards. Her honesty about her struggles and triumphs is an inspiration to many.