EastEnders star Michelle Collins says she has ‘given up’ trying to be recognised as anything other than her iconic character.

The actor played Cindy Beale on the show 1988 to 1990, and again from 1992 to 1998.

But more than 20 years after she left the show, Michelle is still being recognised on the street as Cindy – even by people who weren’t even alive when her character graced the saps screen.

‘It’s bizarre,’ she said while appearing on Friday’s episode of Loose Women.

‘I’ve given up saying “I’m a serious actor now”, I just go with it.’

Speaking to Kaye Adams, Carol McGiffin, Nadia Sawalha and Sunetra Sarker, Michelle admitted: ‘I don’t know how these young kids know who I am!’

The actor says she has decided to ’embrace it’ rather than feel frustrated to be known only by that singular character.

‘I’ve been in it since I was 18 years old and I’m surviving,’ she said, adding that ‘a lot of women my age left and couldn’t make it financially viable.’

This led her to decide to be ‘more positive about it.’

The soap star, who also starred in Coronation Street as landlady Stella Price, appeared on the ITV chat show to talk about her current project Cluedo, a stage show that is currently touring the UK.

Their conversation also touched on her engagement to partner Mike, 38, who popped the question last month during a hike in LA.

She gushed over her beau, recalling how they had ‘survived the pandemic’ together which made them stronger than ever.

The pair, who have been together for 10 years, are currently in the middle of planning their wedding.

Carrying on her soaps legacy, Michelle joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2011, and left three years later in 2014.

She has also appeared in Casualty three times as different characters.

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV.

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