Actress Natalie Cassidy has revealed she was rejected from a major Gavin and Stacey role after being called up by James Corden to have an audition before it went to another star
EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy revealed she was rejected from a huge role in Gavin and Stacey.
The actress, who is known for her role as Sonia Fowler in the soap since joining in 1993, auditioned for a huge role in the beloved TV series. She hoped to secure the role of Smithy’s laid-back sister Ruth ‘Rudi’ Smith. However, it was eventually bagged by Sheridan Smith of The Royal Family fame.
Sheridan didn’t appear in the Christmas Special in 2019, yet was “over the moon” to reprise the character for the last ever episode after 14 years. Natalie revealed the role was almost hers as she confessed: “James Corden phoned me up and said ‘we’ve got this idea…’ You just have to give it your best shot.”
The actress continued to TV Times: “Sometimes you get stuff and sometimes you don’t.” Natalie revealed her connection to the BBC sitcom as she spoke to Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page. She said on the Off The Telly podcast: “Can I tell you a secret? Not about me, but I’ve got one tiny link to Gavin and Stacey. I auditioned for the part of Smithy’s sister.
“I told you [Joanna} but I’ve not said it out loud. I went up Oxford Street into Baby Cow. Did all my read with James and didn’t go to plan, unfortunately.” Gavin and Stacey fans were stunned by Sheridan’s appearance in the 2024 Christmas Special after show bosses managed to keep it under wraps.
She starred alongside Pam Ferris, who played Cath Smith, as they returned to watch Smithy walk down the aisle on his wedding day – with many feeling the cameos stole the show. One fan wrote on X: “They even got Sheridan Smith back, this is perfect, I’m so happy #GavinAndStacey.”
Another typed: “The best thing so far about Gavin & Stacey is that Sheridan Smith got the appearance in the finale she deserved! So happy to see her!!” While another fans commented that Sheridan owed her success to the show, commenting: “Sheridan Smith blew up not long after #GavinAndStacey aired for the first time.”
There was initially speculation that Sheridan wouldn’t likely reprise her role, especially as she wasn’t in the last special. Yet a source told the Mirror in May that ‘informal discussions’ over her return had begun. They said: “[The script] includes all of the show’s major players – including Smithy’s sister Rudi. Nothing has been signed and conversations are still very much ongoing. All of the stops are being pulled out to make sure the whole cast are there.”
The source added that Sheridan and co-creator James, who previously dated, are “still friendly” and said there was hope that she could be part of the “finale”. The source teased: “She did not appear in [2019] because her character was not part of that storyline, but it has been a different story this time around.”
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