Michelle Collins won’t be heading back to EastEnders just yet after landing a brand new role.
The Cindy Beale icon will make her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in Motorhome Marilyn, a comedy by Ben Weatherill (after Stewart Permutt), which was based on an idea by Michelle herself.
The play follows a woman named Denise, who is a hopeful actress obsessed with Marilyn Monroe, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Hollywood legend’s illustrious career.
Michelle inspired the play herself following a real-life encounter with a woman known as Motorhome Marilyn.
‘I am thrilled to be making my Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut with Motorhome Marilyn, a wonderful new play which is dark, funny and so close to my heart,’ said the Coronation Street star.
‘When I encountered the show’s real-life namesake out in LA, I couldn’t have imagined that journey would lead me to this point.
‘However, thanks to Ben’s, and my late friend Stuart’s, wonderful writing, I can’t wait to share this story with Edinburgh audiences this summer.’
Motorhome Marilyn will be playing Doonstairs, Gilded Balloon Patter House, from 30 July to 25 August 2025 (except August 13) at 5.30pm.
Word of Michelle’s new project comes shortly after her departure from EastEnders after Cindy wreaked havoc during the 40th anniversary in February.
Cindy was inadvertently responsible for the fire at the Queen Vic, which claimed the life of Martin Fowler, after she pushed Ian Beale into the path of Reiss Colwell’s car.
Kathy Beale, who left Cindy to die at Christmas, ultimately rescued her nemesis from the ruins of the burning building, with Cindy subsequently resolving to leave the Square – for now.
She explained that she was going to allow the culprit of her Christmas attack – aka Kathy – to get away with their crime, leaving Walford to stay with old friend Gita for a bit.
However, in true Cindy fashion, the soap’s resident schemer made it quite clear that she has a trick up her sleeve. In recent scenes on screen, Cindy blocked son Peter after he reached out to her on Mother’s Day.
