Michelle Collins pockets six-figure payday after shock EastEnders return boosts earnings

Michelle Collins has revealed that her dramatic comeback as the iconic Cindy Beale in EastEnders has paid off not just creatively, but financially, with her personal company, It Worx Limited, seeing a major surge in earnings following her return to Albert Square.

The actress, 63, who founded the company in 1996 to manage income from her television work, saw its cash reserves jump from just £20,000 to nearly £200,000 in the year ending March 2024.

According to newly published Companies House records as seen by The Sun, she now faces a Corporation Tax bill of £69,694, suggesting her earnings from the period were roughly five times that amount.

Despite the financial success, Collins admitted she initially felt uncertain about reprising her role as Cindy after 25 years off-screen.

Speaking at the TRIC Awards at Grosvenor House in London, she said: “I didn't know if people would be happy that she was back. I really didn't know, you have to take that risk! But I think she's gone down quite well.”

Since her shock return, following a twist that revealed Cindy had faked her death and lived under the alias Rose Sawyer in witness protection, Collins has thrown herself back into the soap’s most outrageous storylines.

Now entangled in messy relationships and dramatic feuds, Cindy’s latest arc includes an affair with her ex-husband George Knight’s son, Junior.

Collins says audiences have embraced the character’s villainous streak. “I think people are liking her,” she said. “People don’t want to see nice Cindy. She was nice for a while, and they don’t want to see nice Cindy - I promise you, they don’t.

"Sometimes I’ll pick up the scripts and I’ll go, ‘Oh no, you can’t. Really? Having an affair with his son? No, it’ll be fine, people love her.’”

Michelle originally joined the cast in 1988, before returning in 1992 for a longer stint. Her 2023 return marked a major moment in soap history, with the twist that she had never actually died in prison as previously believed.

Outside of EastEnders, the 63-year-old is preparing to debut a one-woman show titled Motorhome Marilyn at the Edinburgh Festival this summer.

The play follows a Marilyn Monroe impersonator on the road, and Collins has been granted a month-long break from filming to take part.

While she's remained quiet about how Cindy will temporarily leave the Square, she hinted that details of her character’s exit will be revealed soon.

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