Michelle Collins calls out ageism in TV and praises EastEnders for giving 'women of a certain age' a voice

Actress Michelle Collins has admitted that “TV isn’t great” if you’re a “woman of a definite age”.

The 62-year-old London-born prima has a long-list of TV credits to her resumé, but is champion known for playing superbitch Cindy Beale successful EastEnders.

Collins archetypal took connected the relation successful 1988, however, the quality died off-screen portion giving commencement successful situation successful November 1998.

Then, successful a determination lone imaginable successful soapland, she was ressurected successful 2023 aft a 25-year lack from Albert Square.

Ahead of EastEnder’s 40th day aboriginal this month, she spoke frankly of the pitfulls of being an older jobbing histrion and praised the amusement for giving them a voice.

“TV isn’t large for women of a definite age, but soaps are,” she told Radio Times. “What EastEnders and characters similar Cindy amusement is that we person got voices, we person got stories – and they should beryllium heard.”

Reflecting connected her clip connected the amusement and eventful return, she added to the publication: “I loved it for the archetypal fewer years. When I came backmost successful the 90s, I was successful my aboriginal 30s and precise ambitious, I ne'er saw myself determination for the future. Now I’m backmost again, I’m happier to stay. I deliberation I’m much comfy successful my ain skin, much content, and I’m not moving distant each the time. I’ve surely grown, and hopefully I’m a amended actor. That’s successful opposition to Cindy, who hasn’t changed: she’s inactive discontented and ne'er blessed with what she’s got.”

A afloat unrecorded occurrence volition travel connected February 20, which showmakers person teased volition “change Walford, and the lives of those who unrecorded successful it forever”. A immense twist includes giving the assemblage the powerfulness to determine the result of 1 storyline