Michelle Collins returned to EastEnders as Cindy Beale in 2023 after a 25-year absence from the soap, but admits she is showing no sign of slowing down.

EastEnders star Michelle Collins has opened up about her future after revealing her return to the BBC soap left her feeling like she was “back from the dead”.

Michelle first appeared on Albert Square as fan-favourite Cindy in 1988. However, fans were led to believe Cindy died off-screen while giving birth in prison in November 1998.

Last year though, Michelle made a return to Walford after a 25-year absence. It was a moment the 62-year-old star described as “surreal”.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “It was surreal coming back to EastEnders. It felt like I had literally come back from the dead. It took me a long time to find my feet and feel comfortable.

“Although I don’t think you should ever feel too comfortable anywhere, because you just don’t know, do you? But I’m settled in.”

A lot has changed since Michelle last appeared on EastEnders as well. She says the cast has almost doubled in size and filming is spread across more days.

Michelle says filming the soap includes around “10 different emotions in one day” with “long hours” and “hard work”. But the star admits she “loves what she’s doing” and would simply walk away if she “moaned all day”.

Michelle Collins and husband Mike(Image: Instagram)

And now in her sixties, Michelle also confesses she thinks she is unlikely to slow down. She continued: “I still really enjoy my work. I’m not one of these people that’s particularly overly materialistic.

“I’ve done a lot in my life, but I still strive to be an actor and be creative. I don’t think I will ever retire. I really enjoy working.”

She says there is “lots of stuff” she still wants to achieve in life and has now accepted that ageing is “a part of life”. Michelle praised EastEnders for having “great storylines” featuring women of all ages.

And of course, fans were happy to see her character up to her old tricks after returning to screens, cheating on Ian with ex-husband George’s son Junior. But while fans will be watching Cindy up to her old antics on Christmas Day, Michelle and husband Mike will be heading off on holiday.

She says the festive period is “different” after her beloved mother Mary died from skin cancer in 2021 and her daughter Maia Rose, 28, “does her own thing”. Although, Mike and Michelle haven’t chosen a destination yet, with the actress admitting the pair are both “last minute dot com”.

EastEnders will air at 7.30pm on Christmas Day.