EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy reveals she was snubbed for iconic Gavin and Stacey role after auditioning for part
Natalie has now reminded James Corden about their encounter
EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy has revealed she auditioned for an iconic Gavin and Stacey role – but didn’t get the part.
Natalie, who is best known for playing Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, says she auditioned for the character alongside James Corden more than 17 years ago.
The actress had hoped to bag the role of Rudi, who is the sister of James’ character Smithy, but was snubbed in favour of Sheridan Smith.
She has now reminded James of her audition during a special episode of hers and Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page’s joint podcast, Off The Telly.
Natalie spilled the beans while she and Jo chatted to Adrian Scarborough, who plays Pete, and Robert Wilfort, who plays Stacey’s brother Jason in the show.
Natalie asked the pair: “Can I tell you a secret?”
As they agreed, she continued: “It’s not about me, but I’ve got one tiny link to Gavin and Stacey.
“I auditioned for the part of Smithy’s sister.”
There were audible gasps before Adrian said: “You could have been Rudi? Oh my gosh.”
Natalie confessed to previously telling Joanna her secret but hadn’t “said it out loud” to anyone else.
She continued: “I went up Oxford Street into Baby Cow, did my read with James and it didn’t go to plan unfortunately. But yeah.”
Once the girls had bid farewell to Adrian and Robert, they were joined on the podcast by James and the show’s director, Christine Gernon.
After saying hello to James, Natalie was very quick to remind him about her audition more than 17 years ago.
She told him: “I was only telling Adrian Scarborough earlier and Rob how I nearly, nearly got to play Rudi.
“Do you remember that, James?”
James replied: “I know. You were there. You were the person we were thinking about.
“I remember chatting to you on the phone about it. You’d have been amazing.”
Vying for a future role with James, Natalie quipped: “It’s alright. Next sitcom, yeah?”
Gavin and Stacey first hit the small screen in 2007.
Its popularity quickly rocketed and the last Christmas special, which aired in 2019, drew in a staggering 18.49million viewers.
This Christmas Day, Gavin and Stacey will return for one final and extended festive special.
The entire cast have reunited for the 90 minute finale episode, which creators James and Ruth have insisted will be the very last one.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, James said: “It’s definitely the last time you’ll ever seen them, no question.”
Ruth, who plays Nessa in the comedy, added: “When you see this episode, you’ll go, ‘There’s nowhere to go after this’.”
- Gavin and Stacey: The Finale, 9pm, BBC One, December 25
