Natalie Cassidy has said that she is trying to follow in the footsteps of the late Dame Barbara Windsor by helping new co-stars when they join her on the set of EastEnders.
The actor, 38, has portrayed Sonia Folower on the BBC show since 1993, with her having learned the ropes from Dame Barbara and fellow soap favourite Wendy Richard.
Both women were established performers when they joined the cast of the soap opera, but Natalie was still schoolgirl at the time that she uttered her first lines in Albert Square.
When asked how it was starting out in a huge show at such a young age, Natalie said: "At 10, I didn't really know. I came into it and I knew it was a programme on the television."
She continued: "It was just a lovely place to be and to get out of school. I used to come along and talk to everyone."
During a recent interview on BBC Radio 2, she added: "And in hindsight, I look back at all of the legendary people that we've lost now, Dame Barbara Windsor and Wendy Richard."
Natalie said: "The things I've learnt from those women, and I hope to take that through and teach the youngsters."
The actor knows exactly what it's like to be the new kid on the block in E20 and said that she is more than happy to take the show's latest recruits under her wing.
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She commented in the interview: "I like to make myself known as soon as someone joins. I think it's a daunting place to work. We're so familiar to people and it is an institution."
"People come in, I give everyone a warm welcome. I give them my number and say, 'If there's anything you want or you need any advice, just give me a ring,'" she added.
The actor continued: "I think that's really important." She however revealed that the offer isn't always taken advantage of, with her stating: "Some people don't ring me."
Dame Barbara - known affectionately as Babs - played Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell from 1994 until 2016. The actor passed away of Alzheimer's disease in 2020, aged 83.
Wendy played Pauline Fowler on the BBC soap, having joined as an original cast members in 1985. She remained on the show until 2006 and died of breast cancer in 2009.
Natalie's comments come amid a new schedule for EastEnders, which began last night. The changes are following a shake-up of time slots for BBC and ITV soaps.
EastEnders is now being shown Monday through Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One. ITV rival Coronation Street now airs from 8pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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