EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy: ‘Sonia gets frustrated with Reiss but she’ll forgive him’

EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy: ‘Sonia gets frustrated with Reiss but she’ll forgive him’

As a seasoned soap opera enthusiast with a particular penchant for EastEnders, I must say that this week promises to be quite the rollercoaster for Sonia and Reiss. Having been through my fair share of Walford’s tumultuous relationships, I can only imagine how Sonia is feeling about her relationship with Reiss after these last few weeks. It seems like a never-ending storm of lies and gossip, but Sonia, ever the resilient one, stands by her man.


The upcoming week is shaping up to be challenging for Sonia, portrayed by Natalie Cassidy, and her character Reiss, played by Jonny Freeman, as they deal with the aftermath of Reiss’s actions involving Debbie on EastEnders.

It appears that Sonia might soon uncover the truth regarding Reiss’s terrible deed, as she gets closer to it.

The beginning of the week finds Reiss in a state of worry as he struggles to fulfill Phil’s deadline. His attempt to keep Sonia occupied for a day doesn’t succeed, ultimately resulting in an uncomfortable encounter with Phil.

After discovering the truth, Sonia skillfully buys some moments, yet an unexpected agreement from Teddy puts Reiss in a precarious situation…

In the course of the week, matters take a turn for the worst for Sonia and Reiss. During an engagement party at The Vic, their celebration is disrupted by the police, who apprehend Sonia and Reiss on suspicion of Debbie’s murder.

How is Sonia feeling about her relationship with Reiss after the tumultuous last few weeks?

Natalie Cassidy: Sonia adores Reiss and considers him an outstanding individual. Admittedly, he often finds himself in tricky predicaments, yet he consistently provides explanations to Sonia afterwards. She’s aware of his inclination towards getting into deeper troubles, and at times, Sonia does grow impatient with Reiss due to this trait; however, she remains loyal to him.

Why hasn’t Sonia taken note of the many red flags from Reiss’s behaviour?

The primary focus of Sonia’s life now revolves around having a baby with Reiss and establishing a family together. Without their shared IVF journey, I believe Sonia may have severed ties with Reiss due to multiple untruths. Despite the numerous lies, Sonia is so determined to build this family that she’s choosing to overlook them.

EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy: ‘Sonia gets frustrated with Reiss but she’ll forgive him’

Is all the gossip about them shaking her faith in Reiss?

Sonia firmly believes that her family matters should be kept private, disregarding the rumors spread by others in the Square. She feels no one else has a right to know the details and instead of engaging with such gossip, she advises them to mind their own business. Sonia stands firm and vigorously supports Reiss, not backing down from defending him.

It appears she’s drawing strength from the powerful females in her lineage, assertively putting a stop to the rumors. Does it amuse you to play this role?

In these recent episodes, Sonia’s speeches evoke memories of the ’90s, when Carol or Bianca Jackson would express themselves powerfully. Sonia possesses that same passion, although it doesn’t always show. It’s been delightful to act out those scenes and witness the hidden Jackson resilience within Sonia, a trait that her mother and sister also possessed.

 Is Sonia touched that Kathy is throwing her an engagement party?

Sonia deeply appreciates having Lauren and Jack nearby during this tough time. Without Carol, Bex on a trip, an argument with Bianca leading to her departure, and Whitney’s exit from the Square, it’s comforting for Sonia to have Kathy as a source of support. I adore the bond developed between these two strong women through their shared experiences with Rocky and his mischievous activities. Plus, working alongside Gillian Taylforth is an absolute joy.

EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy: ‘Sonia gets frustrated with Reiss but she’ll forgive him’

Is Sonia excited to be engaged at least?

Reiss’s decision regarding the engagement ring has caused complications yet again, making things more complex with Sonia. Instead of purchasing an inexpensive ring, he gave her Debbie’s old one, which created an awkward situation when Debbie’s parents noticed it. Unfortunately, this is causing distress for Sonia at a time when she desires peace and tranquility as she settles into engagement, early pregnancy, and the desire for a quiet life.

Among everything else, is Sonia worried about the scan?

She’s quite anxious about the scan, given her past encounters. What stands out in this IVF story is the careful pacing – they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments for almost a year now, and there’s a significant amount of anticipation and stress surrounding it.

Tell us what happens at Reiss and Sonia’s engagement party…

Sonia is enjoying herself greatly, yet suddenly the police arrive on the scene. It often appears to Sonia that no matter what she does, a cloud of misfortune seems to spoil her fun. A startling moment occurs when the police inform them that Debbie has been brutally killed, and both of them are taken into custody.

EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy: ‘Sonia gets frustrated with Reiss but she’ll forgive him’

What’s it been like to work with Jonny on this story?

It’s been fantastic! We click well, and I consider him a good friend, so it’s been enjoyable to collaborate with him in these scenes. I feel quite fortunate to share this narrative with him.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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2024-08-13 02:36