Michelle Collins has candidly discussed her fears about ageing, while advocating for the representation of older women on television.
The 62-year-old actress, known for her recurring role as Cindy Beale in BBC’s EastEnders since 1988, recently made a comeback to Albert Square after a two-month absence.
She expressed her support for empowering older women and praised EastEnders for assigning significant storylines to its seasoned cast members. During an interview on BBC Breakfast, she stated: “I’m just really happy that we are embracing older women on screen.
“I think that’s really important, and giving them big stories, which is what EastEnders did when Cindy came back.”
Despite acknowledging the soap industry’s support for older women, Michelle feels this isn’t reflected across the entire TV landscape. “TV isn’t great for women of a certain age, but soaps are,” she shared with Radio Times.
“What EastEnders and characters like Cindy show is that we have got voices, we have got stories – and they should be heard.”
This year, Michelle will take centre stage in a one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The production, titled Motorhome Marilyn, draws inspiration from a woman she encountered on the streets of Los Angeles years ago.
“I saw this woman coming out of a motorhome near the place where the stars are on the pavement,” she told the BBC. “She was dressed as Marilyn Monroe, in a white halterneck dress, and she popped some money in the parking meter.
“It was the strangest image. I never saw her again but I never forgot her.”
The play tracks the journey of a woman with aspirations to become an actress and a fascination for Marilyn Monroe. Michelle acknowledges that she has been “ambitious” with the show, emphasising the importance of stepping “out of your comfort zone” as one ages.
While she is comfortable with ageing, Michelle concedes it does have its downsides. When questioned by the Guardian about what “scares” her about getting older, Michelle responded: “Losing my memory and not being able to work.”
Michelle’s acting career skyrocketed when she landed the role of Cindy in 1988. Since then, she has featured in numerous TV shows including Doctor Who, the F Word, Casualty and Coronation Street.
However, at the age of 45, she was told by a manager in LA that she was “too old” for Hollywood. She recalls the manager later phoned her agent to complain that her perfume “made her feel sick”.
Michelle will be gracing our screens tonight on BBC One’s Blankety Blank from 8pm. She will be joined by Josh Widdicombe, Judi Love, Aisling Bea, Kojey Radical, and Jedward.
The Chase star Bradley Walsh hosts the show, where contestants try to fill in the blanks to win fantastic prizes.
