Michelle Collins has revealed she ‘never thought’ she’d find love in her 50s as she posed for a stunning shoot with Prima Magazine.
The EastEnders star, 62, told the publication that she was first told by a psychic she’d meet ‘the love of her life’ as she neared her 50th birthday, and went onto meet her husband Mike Davidson just months later.
Michelle, who married Mike in 2022, also reflected on her bombshell decision to return to EastEnders last year after a 25-year absence, saying it ‘feels right’ to be back on the soap as the fiery Cindy Beale.
Unveiled as Prima’s August cover star, Michelle reflected on finding love as she neared her 50th birthday, before getting engaged in 2022 after 10 years together.
She said: ‘I thought it would never happen; I just didn’t think I’d ever get married. But Mike and I will have been married for two years in August.
Michelle Collins has revealed she ‘never thought’ she’d find love in her 50s as she posed for a stunning shoot with Prima Magazine
The EastEnders star told the publication that she was first told by a psychic she’d meet ‘the love of her life’ as she neared her 50th birthday
‘I was almost 50 when we met. A psychic told me that I would meet the love of my life when I was nearly 50, and it happened.’
Michelle shares daughter Maria, 27, with her ex-partner Fabrizio Tassalini, who died in 2014 after a battle with liver cancer.
The actress went onto add: ‘Life’s too short. I’ve lost my mum and five really good friends over the last few years. I’ve had a lot of grieving to do and it makes you think. Life is what you make of it.’
Reflecting on her return to her iconic role as Cindy Beale, the actress said: ‘It was a big decision to return to EastEnders and I wanted to go back with a good storyline. People love to hate Cindy.
‘She is unapologetic and behaves in a way you shouldn’t really behave, but you sometimes can’t help that when you follow your heart, not your gut and, let’s face it, how many women do that?
‘Now, it feels right being back. I’m comfortable in my skin, more in the moment. I’m still hard on myself, but I’m in a very different place now.
‘And you don’t see many 62-year-old women getting good TV roles. There are probably four women who get all the roles – and that’s not me being grouchy, it’s just a fact.’
It comes after Michelle also revealed that Mike isn’t fazed by her steamy sex scenes while playing Cindy on EastEnders.
Michelle tied the knot with her toyboy husband Mike in 2022 after 10 years together
Michelle, who married Mike in 2022, also reflected on her bombshell decision to return to EastEnders last year after a 25-year absence
Unveiled as Prima’s August cover star, Michelle reflected on finding love as she neared her 50th birthday, before getting engaged in 2022 after 10 years together
She said: ‘I was almost 50 when we met. A psychic told me that I would meet the love of my life when I was nearly 50, and it happened’
The actress spoke to Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about Mike’s reaction to her character Cindy Beale’s raunchy activities.
Cindy is currently dating ex-husband Ian Beale but is secretly also trying to win back second ex-husband, George Knight.
On Tuesday night, Cindy was distraught after yet another rejection from George, and found comfort in the arms of George’s son Junior.
The pair spent the night together beginning with a passionate tabletop scene which Michelle thought was worth giving Mike, 39, the heads-up about.
Michelle explained: ‘I don’t normally watch the show, only because I can’t bear watching myself, not that there’s anything wrong with the show.
‘But, I thought I better watch it last night because I was on here. And I had kind of warned my husband what had happened.
‘So, I said: “Do you mind not watching with me? I want to watch it on my own.” So, I watched it on my own first upstairs, then he watched it later on catch-up.
‘And he went: “Well it was OK, it wasn’t exactly Game Of Thrones, was it?”
The August 2024 issue of Prima is now on sale
This was met with loud laughter from Cat and Ben and Cat said: ‘That’s brilliant from Mike, that’s brilliant.’
Later reflecting on her character, first introduced in 1988, Michelle said: ‘She’s become everything that we are told as women not to be.
‘She’s insecure, she’s over-emotional, she loves too much. She acts before she thinks about things.
‘But I do think that situation happened last night where she’d been rejected by George, she’s going through a bad time with Ian.
‘And, I don’t think she manipulated it but I don’t think Junior manipulated it either. They’ve both kind of been rejected by George…’
Michelle added: ‘Listen, I don’t understand it – and I’m playing her! I have to get my head around why, why does she do these things?’
When the affair is revealed, Cindy will have to deal with major fall-out from George and from Ian, whom she lives with.
The August 2024 issue of Prima is now on sale.
#Michelle #Collins #reveals #psychic #told #shed #find #love #50s #met #toyboy #husband #Mike #Davidson #admits #thought #shed #meet
