Actress Michelle Collins has admitted that “TV isn’t great” if you’re a “woman of a certain age”.
The 62-year-old London-born star has a long-list of TV credits to her resumé, but is best known for playing superbitch Cindy Beale in EastEnders.
Collins first took on the role in 1988, however, the character died off-screen while giving birth in prison in November 1998.
Then, in a move only possible in soapland, she was ressurected in 2023 after a 25-year absence from Albert Square.
Ahead of EastEnder’s 40th anniversary later this month, she spoke frankly of the pitfulls of being an older jobbing actress and praised the show for giving them a voice.
“TV isn’t great for women of a certain age, but soaps are,” she told Radio Times. “What EastEnders and characters like Cindy show is that we have got voices, we have got stories – and they should be heard.”
Reflecting on her time on the show and eventful return, she added to the publication: “I loved it for the first few years. When I came back in the 90s, I was in my early 30s and very ambitious, I never saw myself there for the future. Now I’m back again, I’m happier to stay. I think I’m more comfortable in my own skin, more content, and I’m not running away all the time. I’ve certainly grown, and hopefully I’m a better actor. That’s in contrast to Cindy, who hasn’t changed: she’s still discontented and never happy with what she’s got.”
She will have plenty to keep her on her toes as EastEnders has something big up its sleeve for its milestone year. This includes a whole week of episodes that will take place over one day, with a special hour-long episode on February 19.
A full live episode will follow on February 20, which showmakers have teased will “change Walford, and the lives of those who live in it forever”. A huge twist includes giving the audience the power to decide the outcome of one storyline
