The soap fans of the country have the feeling that they know the stars better than their own families – but how many do the actors behind the characters really earn?
Natalie Cassidy is best known as Sonia on Easters, a role that she first played in 1993 as a ten -year -old
Earlier this year, the 41-year-old actress bowed from the iconic soap in London, but was able to forge a lucrative career on the back of her TV star.
After he was eight years old in her first role as a hedgehog in the opera of the beggar in the Barbican, for which she was paid 'about £ 22 for a few hours', Natalie stood up of the best -paid stars of Eastender on a reputed £ 150,000 a year.
That only placed her behind the top earners such as Steve Mcfadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, and Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt, who both reportedly have the same £ 200,000 annual salary.
Her ability is estimated by some sources to be as high as £ 5 million – some of which arise from her acting rolls on BBC shows such as Psychoville and Motherland, as well as performances on reality shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Natalie has, however, successfully spun her TV star in a range of projects for earning money, including books, training DVDVs and recently have two popular podcasts, who have drawn major sponsorship agreements.
In October Natalie will release her autobiography, Happy Days, which probably contains interesting details about her time in the fictional neighborhood of Walford, in which Easters is set.
Natalie came to Easters in 1993 for the first time when she was only 10 years old and stayed with the show until 2025 (depicted here in 1999)
After he was eight years old in her first role as a hedgehog in the opera of the beggars in the Barbican, for which she was paid 'about £ 22 for a few hours', Natalie of the best -paid stars of Eastender became a reputed £ 150,000 a year
That places her salary close to that of top earners of Easters such as Steve Mcfadden, who earns a reported £ 200,000 a year as an iconic Albert Square Hard Man Phil Mitchell
The book has activated a six-way auction war that was eventually won by HQ, a print of publishing giant HarperCollins-which means that the masked singer-star stands in line for an advance of six or even seven digits.
The star has also released two lucrative workout DVDs.
In 2007 she released the then Natalie Cassidy training, for which she received £ 100,000.
Natalie opened the comfort with Grace Dent -Podcast and spoke about how she was offered the enormous sum to throw no less than four stone.
Natalie said she finally regretted that she had taken the money like 'it was not good to do' and she put all the weight back in just eight weeks after filming.
“I was very overweight and they approached me and said,” Listen, we're going to give you £ 100,000, we're going to really make you fit and you're going to lose four stones, “she said.
“I was happy days, let's go for it. I just thought, that's a lot of money, but it wasn't the right thing to do.
“It wasn't – you lose a lot of weight in a period of three or four months, twelve or sixteen weeks, low calories and training every day.”
Natalie Cassidy left Easters to play Sonia Fowler earlier this year after almost 32 years
In 2007 Natalie released her first training DVD, Natalie Cassidies then and now training
Natalie said she finally regretted that she had taken the money to make the fitness dvd if 'it was not the right one to do' and won the weight in weeks
Another money-spinning fitness DVD followed in 2013 called De Perfect 10.
However, things have not always been financially simple for the icon of Easters and in 2012 she chose to do celebrity Big Brother, reportedly to pay a large tax assessment.
Speaking of her life with wet podcast in 2024, the masked singer thought about her reality TV experience-for which she had to spend 16 days away from her then daughter of nine-month-old Eliza.
“I was financially in Dire Straits, with a really bad time, and I did Big Brother,” she said.
“I really went in there for the money to get out of it again, quickly as I can.”
Although Natalie remained reluctant about the exact figure, and only called it 'life -changing', there was speculation that it was no less than £ 150,000.
Asked for her financial habits, Natalie characterized herself as 'a spender' – although she said she was not 'frivolous' with her money.
However, she admits that she likes to splash expensive wine and candles from the French luxury odor brand Diptyque, which sells for almost £ 400.
Natalie says that one of her indulgences is the large candle holders of the French luxury odor brand Diptyque, which is obtained for almost £ 400 once shipping costs
She told the Sunday Times that the most important lessons she has learned about money is 'you cannot take it with you and that you have to enjoy it'.
The 41-year-old actress said she is 'wise with a pension and I do not have much debts', but is not interested in storing massive wealth.
She added: 'You know, they keep it all. What do you keep it for? You could persuade tomorrow. I like to live in the moment. '
The mother of two confessed that she had never used a credit card because she started as a 10-year-old with Easters and earned 'good money' at the age of 16, while in the UK 18 you have to be to request a credit card.
Although Natalie would not be drawn on her exact income last year, she described it as 'a very happy amount', but said that people overestimate how much money she brought.
She said: 'It is interesting if you are in public interest, people think that you earn loads and a lot of money – they really think that you have ten times the amount you do.
'And no matter how much it is a large amount, people think you are talking in telephone numbers, and it is not. Extra money from sponsorship starts to crawl, and it certainly makes a difference for my income. '
Natalie now lives in Hertfordshire in a house that is estimated to be about £ 1 million and is engaged to her partner, Easters Cameraman Marc Humpphreys.
Since 2014, the actress has had a long -term relationship with BBC cameraman Marc Humpphreys
The couple lives with their two daughters, Eliza, 14, from the first marriage of Natalie, and Joanie, 8.
The couple has been together since 2014 and is engaged the following year, but still has to get married, something that Natalie partially attributes to her desire for an expensive luxury wedding.
In the podcast of Jen Brister and Kerry Godliman, she said: “You know what? It's a lot of money.
'No, I will tell you what it is; It's time and budget. It's because I am going: 'I will only do something small; I don't have to … “.
'I will do it small, but I want to be with the Ledbury. Oh, I want a Michelin star meal or I'm just a bit of a snob.
“I want the best flowers and I want a designer suit.”
The couple still has a mortgage on their house, but Natalie has had properties since he has taken over her first flat in Islington for about £ 120.00 at the age of 18.
Natalie also had a 'really nice house' in Winchmore Hill, on a private road in Noord -Londs, which she bought for around £ 435,000 and was sold in 2022 for around £ 620,000 to pay a large tax account.
The Easters -star participated in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 -depicted here with partner Vincent Simone
However, she says that she regrets the sale because she claims that the same houses are now selling routinely for around £ 1.5 million.
The soap legend also acknowledged that she is better off than her parents, but said she grew up that she was 'pretty spoiled but in a beautiful, loving way'.
Natalie said that the first time she realized she had money on Mother's Day when she was 13 and her mother took it for an edition for M&S.
She said: 'I remember taking a bus from Essex Road and went to the Big Marks & Spencer in Moorgate and was able to really treat my mother with my own money.
'I bought her a lot of presents, such as a jacket and a huge set of flowers. That was the first time I felt rich. '
The star says that her weakness 'treats everyone' remains and regularly records the tab when she goes out to eat with friends and family because she loves 'a smile conjuring up someone's face'.
Natalie has become a successful podcaster in recent years and credits start one like her a single best business decision.
She organizes two podcasts, Life with Nat, in which she talks to friend and family about various topics, and outside of television, with co-host Joanna Page, who treats TV and backstage gossip.
Life with wet has been a big hit and attracts more and more sponsors who help stimulate Cassidy's ability.
Natalie Cassidy representatives refused to comment.
