EastEnders’ Michelle Collins reveals 'terrifying' and ‘surreal’ return as Cindy Beale

Michelle Collins has spoken out about her “surreal” return to EastEnders as iconic character Cindy Beale.

Earlier this year, Cindy was revealed to be alive and well, 25 years after she was declared dead on the BBC soap.

Now reunited with estranged husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and their son Peter (Thomas Law), Cindy makes her way back to Walford next week.

Asked how it felt to step back onto Albert Square, Collins explained: “Surreal. Kind of terrifying at the same time. I suppose it’s a bit like that first night when you do a play because you get those first night nerves but you also get that amazing adrenaline feeling.

“I don’t trust people when they say they’re not nervous, I think they’re lying. I was kind of terrified but also excited at the same time.”

Asked about what we can expect, the star added: “It was a real emotional roller coaster. The scenes were so well written with emotion and strength. [Cindy’s] been through a lot but she’s still a very strong character.

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“That was another reason why I really wanted to come back because I think that these kinds of shows write really well for women, and I was really happy with this week of episodes.”

Gillian Taylforth has already teased the showdown when her alter ego, Kathy Beale, comes face to face with Cindy. With those scenes due to air very soon, Collins echoes this promise.

“The first person she meets is Kathy and I think you can probably imagine what that’s going to be like,” she laughed. “There’s never been a love lost there between daughter and mother-in-law.”

Cindy is currently unaware that another ex of hers, George Knight (Colin Salmon), has settled down in the area with their daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).

“That’s a real shocker,” said Collins, when asked about the moment Cindy makes this discovery. “I mean you can only imagine. She hasn’t seen them for a long time, and it’s incredibly moving. She had to leave nine years ago, and not to see your kids in nine years is hard.

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“She’s going to have to work very hard for them to understand the reasons why she did it. It’s going to be an ongoing battle. She’s being challenged by people all of the time, and she’s certainly not happy all of the time.

“She’s also grieving as two of her children [Lucy and Steven] have died. So to take all of that on is quite a lot to deal with. It’s tough for her. She’s been through a lot and it’s not easy for her to be back.”

But what about Cindy’s other daughter, Cindy Junior (Mimi Keene) - born at the time of her mum’s ‘death’? Will she be back to meet her mother? “I don’t know. I can’t really tell you too much about her but I know she is alive.

"That’s about all I know. But possibly, who knows!”

Known as a serial schemer during her original EastEnders stint, Cindy has changed considerably, according to Collins. “She’s lived a new life as a completely different person, and I’m amazed that she’s still going with the things she’s been through.

“She has this amazing resilience and this strength of character, but I think she also has a side to her which was kind of lacking when she was younger. Possibly more empathy than maybe she had before, and she’s a bit older and wiser.”

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Still, that doesn’t mean that we won’t be seeing the Cindy of old. “But she’s certainly no walkover,” added the star. “Definitely expect bits of the old Cindy to come back. I also think that people would be disappointed if there [weren’t] elements of her old character in there.

“She was a character where women hated her, but they also wanted to be her because of the way she behaved. She was unapologetic in a time where women on TV weren’t portrayed that way so I think that’s why she literally got away with murder!”