Natalie Cᴀssidy has revealed she can’t wait to be free to have a complete image change – now that she’s quit her role as EastEnders character Sonia Fowler.

The actress, 41, said because she is ‘very professional’ she has not changed her hair or nails in the 11 years since she returned as a permanent member of the cast in 2014.

But Natalie has now revealed her big plans to dye her hair red and lengthen it with extensions, after being inspired by a famous singer.

But she said when she’s done with the soap later this month she plans to look like singer Florence Welch, from Florence and the Machine.

Natalie said her partner, cameraman Marc Humphreys, questioned her desire for a drastic new look, but she told him: ‘I’m just doing it – leave me alone’.

Natalie first joined the BBC soap in 1993 as part of the Jackson clan and stayed until 2007.

Natalie Cᴀssidy has revealed makeover plans to look like singer Florence Welch (right) after quitting as EastEnders as Sonia Fowler

Cᴀssidy said because she is ‘very professional’ she has not changed her hairstyle – nor done her nails – in 11 years since she returned as a permanent member of the cast in 2014 (pictured in 2000)

She then returned in a few episodes in 2010 and 2011 before deciding to make a permanent return in 2014 – since when she has appeared regularly with the exception of her maternity leave from 2016 to 2017.

Discussing her upcoming makeover, she said: ‘I’m going to dye my hair. I’ve always wanted red hair – kind of like Florence and the Machine red.

‘I’m going for it. I might put some extensions in – get a bit longer. Not too long, a few more inches.

‘I haven’t been able to change my hair obviously for eleven years.

‘And even when I had my breaks and stuff, I kind of was doing stuff and never changed it and I just want a drastic change.

‘Mark said “Are you sure that’s a good thing to do because you won’t really look like you, and work?”. ‘I’m like ‘I’m just doing it, leave me alone’.’

She added: ‘After two weeks it will probably go back and I will just look like Natalie again.

Mum-of-two Natalie will leave EastEnders as part of the BBC One show’s 40th anniversary – a decision she made in the summer

A week of anniversary episodes will see a huge explosion rip through the Queen Vic pub and rumours are rife that Natalie’s popular character could die in the blast

‘I’m really, really professional and good so I just kind of always felt Sonia should have the hair I have, and no nails, so I’ve just always kept to it.’

Read More Beloved EastEnders star QUITS their role on the soap after nearly 32 years: ‘It’s time to move on’

Asked by her friend, Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page on their Off the Telly podcast if she’s going to get her nails done, she said: ‘Yeah, straight away.

‘I’m going to turn up, you’re going to be like ‘Where’s Nat?’ ‘

She agreed with Page who told her it would be like a ‘complete image change’.

Mum-of-two Natalie will leave EastEnders as part of the BBC One show’s 40th anniversary – a decision she made in the summer.

She will film her final scenes later this month.

A week of anniversary episodes will see a huge explosion rip through the Queen Vic pub and rumours are rife that Natalie’s popular character could die in the blast.

But she would not divulge any exit storyline for her character, who has recently been on trial wrongly accused of killing Debbie Colwell.