Actress Michelle Collins, best known for playing Cindy Beale in BBC’s long-running soap EastEnders, has lived a rollercoaster life away from the dramas of Albert Square
Much like her character Cindy Beale, actress Michelle Collins has experienced the highs and lows of life.
The soap star is at the centre of Albert Square’s latest scandal as Cindy secretly reconnects with her ex-husband George Knight behind his fiancée Elaine Peacock’s back. The dramatic storyline follows Cindy’s return from the grave last year after she was believed long dead.
Cindy made her explosive return to Walford in 2023 after 25 years away – and a whole lot happened in Michelle’s life off-screen during that time. As her fiery character amps up the drama on set, the Mirror takes a look at her rollercoaster life away from EastEnders.
Real age
Michelle continues to blow fans away with her youthful looks and many are unable to believe she is 61 years old. Following an appearance on The One Show back in August, viewers flocked to social media to express their amazement at glamorous Michelle’s age.
One person tweeted: “Michelle Collins is 61. She looks tremendous”, while another commented: “Blows my mind that Michelle Collins is 61. She looks incredible.” A third person agreed: “Michelle looks fabulous.”
Love life
Hackney-born Michelle started dating her now-husband Mike Davidson back in 2012, with the fashion retailer reportedly popping the question during a holiday to Los Angeles. The pair tied the knot in August 2022, with Michelle sporting a chic white jumpsuit during their stylish ceremony in Islington, London.
The couple appear to be very happy and loved-up, but have also had to deal with a fair bit of criticism on account of their 22-year age difference. In a 2018 interview with the Daily Star, Michelle expressed frustrations over how their relationship was discussed, stating that she hates being referred to as a ‘cougar’.
Michelle, who first met Mike when he was 29, fumed: “Mike is 22 years younger than me and I’m regarded as a predator. It drives me mad. People call him my toyboy beau. He’s nearly 35, for God’s sake.
“He turned to me the other day and said, ‘Surely I’m not still your toyboy, am I?’ I laugh about it now but it is annoying. And I hate that word cougar. I can’t stand it. I find it so demeaning. A cougar is a predator going around looking for young flesh. I’m certainly not like that.”
She continued: “But then, women are judged far more harshly than men. And, funnily enough, often by other women. If people think I look old enough to be his mum then let them! There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s one of the downsides, I suppose, of being in the public eye.”
Dark times
Michelle has previously spoken candidly about her mental health battles, which have seen her navigate some very dark times in her life. One particularly devastating period followed her split from former partner Fabrizio Tassalini, with whom she welcomed daughter Maia Rose. The pair called it quits in 1998, leaving Michelle heartbroken.
The couple remained on good terms and were amicable co-parents until Fabrizio sadly died of liver cancer at his Australia home in 2014. In an interview that year with the Sunday Mirror, Michelle shared: “I felt like I’d been tipped over the edge. I felt like a failure and found myself sinking lower and lower as the days went on, until in the end I couldn’t seem to pull myself out of the hole.”
She added: “The question that kept going through my mind was, ‘Would anybody miss me if I wasn’t here?’ Foolishly I somehow decided no one would.” It was at that point Michelle turned to co-star Peter Polycarpou for help. He took her to hospital where she stayed for a few days.
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
