EastEnders legend Wendy Richard, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap for over 20 years, died in 2009 of breast cancer and had a sweet bond with Natalie Cassidy
EastEnders icon Wendy Richard reportedly planned to leave her estate to her dear co-star on a certain condition.
The soap star played Pauline Fowler on Albert Square for over 20 years, from 1985 until 2006. She sadly died of breast cancer on this day in February 2009, having been first diagnosed with the disease in 1996 and undergoing years of treatment before it returned.
Last month, the soap paid tribute to Pauline and her husband Arthur in a recent episode when they aired a scene of the pair from the 1980s. In a bid to win over her now-late boyfriend Martin Fowler (James Bye), Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) unearthed an old video tape of his parents Pauline and Arthur participating in a game show.
It was claimed Wendy had wanted her beloved Walford co-star Natalie Cassidy to have her £2 million estate when she died. However it was alleged this would be the case if her husband John Burns died within 28 days of her.
The irony was, Wendy’s character Pauline played Sonia’s disapproving stepmother in the soap, but they actually had a beautiful friendship in real life. Natalie said she hit “rock bottom” after Richard passed and saw her as a “very special lady” and “second mum”.
It is known for sure that Wendy gifted Natalie her lucky necklace before she died. She told Heat magazine: “It’s supposed to bring you luck with your career and ever since I’ve had it I’ve had nothing but happiness, luck, jobs and money coming in.
“I swear to God she’s looking after me. She was like family and so is John. And it’s ridiculous to suggest there’s anything (romantic) going on there – I’m just round the corner from him so that he won’t be on his own.”
According to The Sun, the Are You Being Served? star made her dying wishes known in her will six months before her passing. It’s believed she wanted her ashes to be mixed with those of her beloved pet dog.
Natalie revealed she “wasn’t well” and sought the help of a counsellor after Wendy’s passing. She told the outlet: “I wouldn’t call it a breakdown, but I was under so much pressure I think I was on the brink of one. I did see a therapist for a little while, about lots of different things.
She explained Wendy’s passing made her re-asses her relationship with her own mother. “They were a bereavement specialist – my mum died seven years ago, then I made some bad choices and I lost myself,” she continued. “
“I then fell out with some of my family and friends. I got myself back on track, though, and made up with my family, but that’s when it all suddenly hit me – I miss my mum more than ever, and the day Wendy died I hit rock bottom.
“Wendy was my second mum, and if I’m honest, that’s when it all affected me. I thought, ‘I need to see someone about my mum, mistakes I’ve made in my life and regrets.'”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
