EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy is reportedly taking an extended break from her role as Sonia Fowler on the soap.
Sonia, who is an NHS nurse, will not be back on our screens until 2021, it has been reported.
This means Natalie is actually returning to the set to film her next scenes in the upcoming weeks, but it will be several months before they air.
A source told The Sun : "Natalie like other actors on EastEnders was given a break for a few months.
"In real time she is back filming in the next few weeks but on screen she will leave and be off for a few months because the show is filmed so far ahead. She’ll be back again early Spring.
"Giving actors on the show breaks is nothing unusual and when it’s a quieter period for their character, it makes more sense to rest the characters rather than them not doing much on set."
The Mirror contacted a representative for EastEnders, who declined to comment.
Natalie fans will be pleased to know that if they are missing her from their screens, she will be starring on the second series of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK.
The show returns to BBC Three in January and Natalie will be giving the queens an "acting masterclass".
Natalie said: "I love the show. I love its boldness, its brassiness, and it’s sassiness.
"I was really thrilled to be part of it… it’s good fun and it’s just what we need right now.
"As ever the talent is amazing and fabulous. There is so much creativity and humour and good fun from what I’ve seen.
"Exactly the sort of thing we need to cheer us all up - long live Drag Race."
