EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has called for a significant shift in the conversation about death following her father’s death.
In May 2021 the Sonia Fowler actress explained that she had been quiet on social media as her beloved dad had died aged 84.
Sharing a selfie of her and her dad to Instagram, Natalie wrote: ‘I’ve been very quiet the last few weeks. I lost my precious daddy three weeks ago today. I wasn’t really going to do this post, but I felt I can’t come on here and be a knob without letting everyone know that my life has changed.
‘He was my whole world and I’m not sure what I’m going to do without him. All I know is my family, friends and work will make it easier. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life. It really is at these times you realise how important relationships are and company and friendship and love is so important.’
In a recent interview iNews, she said: ‘As soon as someone is pregnant, you’re texting, ‘What does it weigh? How did you give birth? What colour eyes are? What’s the name?’”
‘But when someone dies, most people just say, ‘I’m really sorry,’ and that’s it. There’s no, ‘How did that happen? How did you feel about it? What was it like?’ It’s still very uncomfortable.’
In 2020 Natalie told fans that her dad had been suffering from ill health, saying in October: ‘Last few days have been a bit of a challenge. Daddy hasn’t been very well, nothing major, but it makes you realise they aren’t going to be around forever.
‘Losing mum young means we are so close, In my head I feel he is always going to be this age, living with me and being a bit grumpy at times.
‘But we know that’s not true. He’s as strong as an Ox, so I’m hoping he will be around for a lot longer. Losing people is such a hard part of our lives, no matter what age they are or how they pass.’
Natalie’s mother Evelyn died when the actress was just 19 years old, dying from bowel cancer in 2002 at the age of 63.
