Paloma Faith insists SHE was bullied after EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy claimed singer tormented her at 'rough' London school which has a very famous history
Natalie Cassidy has spilled on her tough school days, claiming that her famous classmate Paloma Faith bullied her.
But in a twist to the tale, Paloma's comments about her own torment at school have emerged.
EastEnders star Natalie, 42, and singer Paloma, 43, both attended Islington Green School, with Paloma in the year above Natalie.
Writing in a 2012 tweet, Paloma insisted her school days were far from easy, insisting: 'Yes I got bullied at school. I had braces and before that, wonky teeth.'
The stars are both from around the same area, with Natalie born in Islington and Paloma raised in Hackney.
Islington Green, which has since been renamed the City of London Academy Islington, has a famous history after its choir landed the job of singing the iconic Pink Floyd line 'we don't need no education' on 1979 hit The Wall.
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Fast forward two decades and the school was once again in the headlines when in 1995 Tony Blair rejected the local comprehensive for his son Euan, who instead received his secondary education at London Oratory in Hammersmith.
Two years later, after Blair was elected Prime Minister, the school was placed in special measures.
Natalie thought back to her school days on her podcast Life With Nat when her bad experience with Paloma came up.
She claimed: 'Paloma Faith, she bullied me at school. She went to Islington Green and was in the year above me. We've spoken about it and she has said sorry about that. Gutted.'
Paloma, who has a degree in contemporary dance and once worked as a magician's assistant, has previously called Islington Green 'very, very rough,' adding that 'the police were there every day; there was a lot of violence.'
But in spite of classmate Natalie's comments and her bullying, Paloma has called herself 'a pacifist,' explaining how her school's 'tough environment helped me develop a strong sense of self. I had to learn to stick to my guns and be stubborn.'
She has also spoken positvely about her 'incredible' teachers, gushing in an interview with The Standard: 'They were very encouraging to me. I was put in the Hackney Gazette because it was a failing school and I got all As at GCSE.'
She has pointed out though that whilst she was inspired by the creative nature of her school, she didn't receive any formal music training, declaring: 'I did it all myself. I had no famous parents, no stage school, no BRIT School.'
'I didn't have lessons, ever, I just copied records.'
After completing her A Levels at City and Islington College, Paloma went on to study for a degree in contemporary dance in Leeds before receiveing an MA in theatre directing at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.
She juggled a huge array of part time jobs during her studies including as a sales assistant at Agent Provocateur, a singer in a burlesque cabaret and a magician's assistant.
Natalie meanwhile landed the role of Sonia Fowler whilst still at school, auditioning when she was just 10.
Alongside her studies at Islington Green, Natalie took acting classes at Anna Scher Theatre School, where she was spotted doing improvisations by EastEnders' writer and director Tony McHale and casting advisor Jane Deitch.
Natalie has played Sonia on and off since 1993 but she will soon exit the soap as part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations.
Announcing the news, Natalie explained that turning 42 this year made her feel it was time to 'be brave' and explore new opportunities.
'You don't want to get to 70 and think, "I never tried that"' she said.
Natalie also expressed her deep love for the show, saying: 'I've loved this programme with all my heart. I started at ten, it's in my bones, it's in my heart.'
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