Latest news with #CindyBeale
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders star Michelle Collins raked in staggering SIX figure sum for soap return as her salary is revealed
SOAP legend Michelle Collins has spoken about her return to EastEnders as the infamously evil Cindy Beale - and the 'risk' has paid off handsomely. As well as playing the Walford villain, actress Michelle also runs a firm called It Worx Limited - which she started in 1996. 4 4 It takes in cash from her telly work and its bottom line has been swelled by money from her lucrative EastEnders contract. The business was down to £20,000 just before she inked her new deal. But figures sent to Companies House and published this week for the 12 months to March this year show cash reserves of almost £200,000. And she has a Corporation Tax bill of £69,694 – meaning her earnings were around five times that sum. Even though Michelle was thrilled when the show's former executive producer Chris Clenshaw asked her to come back to Albert Square, the star wasn't sure how Cindy would be received by viewers. Speaking at the TRIC Awards at Grosvenor House in London, Michelle said: "I didn't know if people would be happy that she was back. I really didn't know, you have to take that risk! "But, I think she's gone down quite well." Cindy - who is the former wife of Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and the ex-wife of George Knight (Colin Salmon) - has caused a lot of drama since her return, such as having an affair with George's son Junior (Micah Balfour). But Michelle thinks Cindy's bad behaviour has gone down well with EastEnders' viewers. She said: "I think people are liking her. Cindy Beale leaves Walford in shock EastEnders moment - but she vows revenge "People don't want to see nice Cindy. She was nice for a while, and they don't want to see nice Cindy - I promise you, they don't! "Sometimes I'll pick up the scripts, and I'll go, 'Oh no, you can't. Really? Having an affair with his son? No, it'll be fine, people love her.'" The actress first joined EastEnders as scheming Cindy in 1988 for a two-year stint. She returned in 1992 for six years before taking a longer break. The 63-year-old thrilled fans with a shock comeback to the BBC soap after a 25-year hiatus in 2023. It was revealed that Ian Beale's ex did not actually die during childbirth in prison and was instead put into witness protection under a new identity - Rose Sawyer - for decades. The star is set to take to the stage this summer in a one woman show at the Edinburgh festival, called Motorhome Marilyn - a play about a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. EastEnders bosses have let her have a month off, but Michelle has kept tight-lipped about how writers will create Cindy's exit storyline. 4 4
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Gillian Taylforth says EastEnders made her who she is today
EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth has said the soap is always in her heart because it made her who she is today. Taylforth, 69, is best known for playing cafe owner Kathy in the BBC soap and first appeared in its debut episode in February 1985. Advertisement The character was killed off in 2006 only to make a shock return – after faking her own death – for the 30th anniversary live episodes in 2015. Gillian Taylforth on the cover of the August issue of Prima (Prima UK/Nicky Johnston/PA) Fronting the August edition of Prima, the actress told the magazine: 'EastEnders has always been my favourite place to work. 'I loved The Bill, Footballers' Wives and Hollyoaks. I got to do plays and a musical and other things that were lovely. But EastEnders has always been in my heart, because that's where I feel I became who I am. 'This wonderful character, Kathy, was always a big part of me. So when I was invited back for the 30th anniversary I was overjoyed to have Kathy back in my life.' Advertisement The character was most recently revealed as the assailant who attacked her former daughter-in-law Cindy Beale, played by Michelle Collins, on Christmas Day. The festive episode ended with Cindy being struck with a shovel as she was walking through Walford after her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) had been revealed at a party in the Queen Vic. Gillian Taylforth in the August 2025 issue of Prima (Prima UK/Nicky Johnston/PA) Cindy had been hoping to return to France with her former husband and her son Ian, played by Adam Woodyatt, before the affair was exposed. Before the 40th anniversary episode, Cindy went to Ian's home with a gun believing him to be the assailant, but he insisted it was not him and turned the blame on his son Peter (Thomas Law). Advertisement Kathy then arrived at the house and told her to leave Ian alone, before confessing to the attack. Speaking about the cast and crew, Taylforth added: 'I have amazing relationships with everyone at EastEnders, but there's something special with Adam (Woodyatt). He's played my son for 40 years, and he never calls me by my name, it's always 'Mum', even when we're not on set, and he's 'Son' to me. Gillian Taylforth with Adam Woodyatt at the Inside Soap Awards 2017 (Isabel Infantes/PA) 'We've got a close bond – he can see if I've forgotten my lines, and he'll say them to remind me. The moment we reunited when Kathy came back, there were tears everywhere – it was a magical moment.' Taylforth also spoke about her self-care routine, saying it makes her 'feel good' about herself. Advertisement She said: 'It's very nice if people say lovely comments about how I look, but I don't do it for anyone other than myself. Self-care helps me feel good about myself. 'I am getting older, and I do notice changes, but for me, I just want to maintain my appearance for as long as can. And if it all falls flat very soon, there's not much I could do about it.' The full interview is in the August issue of Prima which is now on sale.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Eastenders' Michelle Collins on Welsh lineage and Marilyn Munroe
EastEnders star Michelle Collins said she was channelling the "strong Welsh women" in her family as she has admitted to feeling a "bit scared" and out of her comfort zone in a forthcoming who plays Cindy Beale in the soap opera, said a debut appearance at this summer's Edinburgh Festival Fringe would leave her feeling "reenergised" for a return to the Walford show Motorhome Marilyn is about an aspiring actress with an obsessive interest in Hollywood legend Marilyn who described herself as a fan of the late performer, also paid tribute to "really strong and matriarchal figures" while discussing her Welsh ancestry with Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales. "When you go off and you do something else that really challenges you, you are really out of your comfort zone," she said."It's really exciting and then you go back to TV and feel re-energised."And I think it's really important, particularly me at my age, to feel a bit scared to do something out of our comfort zone."The actress, who reprised her role as Cindy in 2023 after a 25-year absence, has appeared in other stage and screen shows including Calendar Girls and Doctor Who. Her new one-woman show is based on a passing glimpse of a real person she encountered years ago on the streets of Los Angeles who was dressed as Monroe."I think life is about timing," said Collins. "It does feel like the stars are kind of aligned."I'm back in EastEnders and they let me have time off, which is really fantastic."I was out of EastEnders for 25 years and I did a lot of work, a lot of telly, a lot of theatre and I'm the kind of person that I just get itchy feet."Collins explained how she "felt Welsh" as her mother grew up in Hopkinstown in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and they returned to visit family when Collins herself was a child."My mother was an incredibly strong woman and, you know I think I'm quite a strong woman and all the Welsh women I know are really strong... and matriarchal figures," she said.
South Wales Argus
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
EastEnders star confirms exit from BBC show for new role
Michelle Collins, who plays Cindy Beale, will leave the show for a month after playing a prominent part in the programme's 40th anniversary earlier this year. She revealed the news at the British Soap Awards, an event that was dominated by the London-based show. Michelle Collins confirms exit from EastEnders for 'strange' new role Speaking with The Mirror , the EastEnders actress said: "Well, I'm going off in the summer. "I'm doing my one-woman show at the Edinburgh festival, called Motorhome Marilyn. "I don't think she's anything like Cindy. It's a play about a woman impersonator lookalike who lives in a trailer and dresses as Marilyn Monroe. But she's 60, it's kind of strange. "It's about failure, lost dreams, and feeling like life has passed you by. She's an interesting character. I'm really excited to play it. EastEnders have let me have a month off, so I'm very excited." However, the Cindy Beale star remained silent about how she would be written out of the show by BBC bosses. She told fans that her character would be focusing on her business and would not be getting involved in love interests for the time being. Despite this, the star added that there would be "fun stuff" coming up with Elaine and Cindy with George. The actress first took on the role of Cindy Beale all the way back in 1988 for a two-year stint. She then returned to the show in 1992 for six years before taking a longer break. After being on rival soap Coronation Street, she made yet another return to the soap opera. Fans slam EastEnders showrunners for handling of Cindy Beale character This comes after fans of the show slammed show bosses for the way they handled her return to the soap. One fan took to the EastEnders subreddit to say that there has been "no progression" to her character in the years she has been absent from Albert Square. They went on to dub her "a lying manipulative cheat who only cares about herself." Recommended Reading: Another penned: "I hated them bringing her back because of exactly this, she's exactly the same character no change. It's exhausting every time she's on screen." While many fans agreed with this, one user said: "Unpopular opinion: I am loving Cindy being back." They added: "As she is constantly bringing the drama and now she is involving half the Square in her family shenanigans like Jean & Harvey."
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders star confirms exit from soap as she takes on ‘strange' new role
EASTENDERS actor Michelle Collins has confirmed she's leaving the BBC soap later this year. However, fans will be pleased to know the 63-year-old will only be gone for a month as she takes on a "strange" new role. 2 Her character Cindy Beale - who took on a prominent role in the show's 40th anniversary episodes - will exit Walford in the coming weeks. Michelle told the Mirror at the British Soap Awards 2025: "Well I'm going off in the summer. "I'm doing my one woman show at the Edinburgh festival, called Motorhome Marilyn. "I don't think she's anything like Cindy. It's a play about a woman impersonator lookalike who lives in a trailer and dresses as Marilyn Monroe. But she's 60, it's kind of strange. "It's about failure, lost dreams, and feeling like life has passed you by. She's an interesting character. I'm really excited to play it. EastEnders have let me have a month off so I'm very excited." Michelle has kept tight-lipped about how EastEnders writers will tell Cindy's exit storyline. Instead, she insisted Cindy is focusing on her business and won't be getting involved in a new love interest anytime soon. However, Michelle told fans there's "fun stuff" coming up with Elaine and Cindy with George. The actress looked incredible at the soap awards this week, which she attended with co-star Adam Woodyatt. Michelle put on a classy display in a classic black gown and teamed it up with a leather handbag. EastEnders' Michelle Collins admits she was in the dark about Angie Watts' shock return & confirms why Cindy ISN'T in live episode The soap star joined EastEnders as Cindy Beale in 1988 for a two-year stint. She returned in 1992 for six years before taking a longer break. Michelle then made an expected return in 2023 after being on Coronation Street.
