EASTENDERS actress Natalie Cassidy has admitted she sometimes books a nanny to babysit for her kids on her days off to allow for “me time”.
The Sonia Fowler star, 41, shares two children with fiance Marc Humphreys.
The EastEnders stalwart, who made her first appearance as Sonia in December 1993, and Marc share daughter Joanie, aged seven.
Natalie is also mum to 12-year-old Eliza from a previous relationship
But the busy mother-of-two often finds it hard to get any “me time” due to her demanding EastEnders filming schedule and her family life.
Speaking on her podcast this week, Natalie addressed the issue of “mum guilt”.
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She told her listeners: “I love time to myself, I love having a nap, I don’t feel guilty.
“There are some days when I’ve got extra hours for my nanny.
“If I’ve got a day when I could be at home, I will book my nanny in and I will go to an art gallery, or I will do something on my own, or see someone.”
She added: “I have no guilt for that – no guilt.”
Natalie tends to keep her kids out of the spotlight, but often gives fan a peek at her home life.
She recently shared a tender video showing her at home with daughter Joanie as she juggled her soap role with mum life.
In her video caption, she said: “I’m REALLY busy working this week.
“Getting home for 4pm and having a few hours to just sit and be with this one is really special.
“Even if she’s cheating.”
SHOCK STATEMENT
Meanwhile, Natalie recently revealed the sassy nature of her youngest in a candid interview.
She told how Joanie “hates” her do-gooder soap character – and doesn’t mince her words about the role.
Natalie told Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast: “She’ll go, ‘Mummy… Sonia’s so boring. I just don’t like watching you on here, honestly I just don’t like it.’
“I say, ‘I’ve been there a long time darling, there’s a lot of people who do like me’.
“She says, ‘Well, I’m not one of them.’ She actually fast forwards my bits, but I don’t know if that’s because I’m her mum or that’s just her take on Sonia.”
EastEnders facts and figures
THE beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
EastEnders follows the lives of the residents of Walford as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
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