This is an accepted version of this page Sonia Fowler (also Jackson)[1] is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Natalie Cassidy.

Sonia returned as a permanent character on 14 January 2014, as part of a storyline that saw her mother Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) develop breast cancer.

On 29 December 2020, it was announced that Cassidy would take an extended break from the show, with Sonia set to leave the Square to return in spring 2021.

[7] Sonia has been featured in storylines including affairs, feuds, bereavements, family problems, teenage pregnancy and a cancer scare.

In 2000, Sonia discovers that she is pregnant at 15 and gives birth to a daughter, Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), whom she puts up for adoption.

Sonia is originally arrested for her murder, but it transpires that Pauline's husband Joe Macer (Ray Brooks) is her killer.

However, this is revealed to be a lie as the man posing as her father is actually Tom "Rocky" Cotton (Brian Conley) intending to scam her.

Sonia later enters into a relationship with Dot's great-nephew Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) who she discovers is married, but they decide to try for a baby via IVF.

[9] Various members of the family began to appear sporadically from November 1993 onwards, but in episodes that aired early in 1994, the Jacksons moved from Walford Towers, a block of flats, to the soap's focal setting of Albert Square.

[10] She was spotted doing improvisations at the Anna Scher Theatre School by Tony McHale and EastEnders' Casting Advisor Jane Deitch.

[9] Other storylines included a period where Sonia was bullied by her friend Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix) after she fell in with the wrong crowd at school.

[10] Sonia departed on screen in February 2007, along with her former husband, Martin Fowler, as his actor, James Alexandrou, also left the serial.

In 2010, Cassidy said one of the reasons she decided to leave the show was because of Sonia's affair with Naomi Julien (Petra Letang), saying it was wrong for the character.

"[3] A source told entertainment website Digital Spy: "Everything's being kept hush-hush about the Jacksons' return at the moment, but there are certainly a load of questions to be answered.

Executive producer Diederick Santer explained that he wanted great stories to get people talking, saying "The wedding is the perfect opportunity for us to bring back the much-loved Jackson characters – Carol, Sonia, Robbie and Billie.

"[14] In December 2010, it was announced Cassidy would return to EastEnders,[15] as Sonia in order to facilitate a temporary storyline departure for co-star Palmer, who was due to take maternity leave.

[21] Speaking of her decision, Cassidy said in a statement that "After another 11 solid years back on The Square, [she had] decided [it was] time to move on to pastures new.

The baby, who is named Chloe, is subsequently given up for adoption and renamed Rebecca, despite protests from Martin's mother Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard).

Sonia helps him, nursing him through his injuries and they decide to marry but their happiness is short-lived as Martin accidentally hits Jamie with his vehicle.

Martin begins dating Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and Sonia also decides to move on by embarking on a full relationship with Tina.

Sonia supports Tina by looking after her ailing mother Sylvie Carter (Linda Marlowe) and ends up becoming her full-time carer.

In September 2016, Sonia receives a lucrative job offer at a private hospital in Kettering and, having realised she no longer loves Tina, ends their relationship.

During Sonia's absence, Bex is bullied by Madison Drake (Seraphina Beh), Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven) and her former friend Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper).

Sonia blames Dot's new lodger, Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) for the attack and threatens to report him to the police if he comes anywhere near No.

Dot throws him out and leaves Walford to live with her grandson, Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett) and his wife Liz (Michelle Connolly) in Ireland.

When Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) makes light of the pandemic, Sonia snaps at him and decides to visit her family abroad.

Reiss discovers the test and, believing he cannot be the father, assumes Sonia has been having an affair with Whitney's boyfriend, Zack Hudson (James Farrar).

As a result, perhaps, the writers wrote what was expected of them [...] there was hardly room in the script for any affection or sympathy at all; instead, their relationship was written around its impact on Martin and the other Albert Square residents.

When the [lesbian] relationship became public, she immediately sought to award sole custody of Rebecca to Martin, citing Sonia's sexual orientation as the reason she would be an unfit mother.

[27]In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Sonia 11th on their ranked list of the best EastEnders characters of all time.