Michelle Collins thinks bosses did her a "favour" by killing her character off in 'EastEnders'.
Michelle Collins
The 55-year-old actress bowed out of the long-running soap in 1998 when her alter-ego Cindy Beale died in childbirth while delivering her daughter Cindy and, although the show is notorious for bringing back characters from the dead, she's adamant she'll never make a return.
Speaking to The Sun Online, she said: "I don't know whether people would buy it though. She is dead. I've always dismissed it because she's been dead so in a way they sort of did me a favour because I can never really go back. But in a way I think I'd spoil it if I go back."
Despite leaving the programme almost two decades ago, the blonde beauty is thrilled that viewers still remember her and her alter ego is mentioned from time-to-time on screen.
She said: "It's quite nice having that mystery about her, it's flattering that people still remember her and that's she's become this iconic sort of character really."
Michelle has also starred in dramas like 'Death in Paradise' and Midsomer Murders' over the years and taken part in taken part in reality show 'Bear Grylls: Mission Survive'.
But she has admitted it's been really hard to shake off the "soap actress" label she's had pinned on her because not only did she make a name for herself in 'EastEnders', she also became known for portraying Stella Price in 'Coronation Street' from 2011 until 2014.
She said: "It's taking your career into your own hands, I don't think TV is what it used to be with Netflix and Amazon, streaming. There's so many other outlets out there, it's not just TV anymore. It's difficult out there, particularly for me because people think they know me. Even though I've done a huge body of work between 'EastEnders' and 'Corrie', having gone back to 'Corrie' you're labelled a soap actress. There's no disrespect at all and that's fantastic but if you want to break out and do other things it's quite difficult."
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