EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison is used to acting in front of millions of armchair television fans. 

However last week the actress was reduced to playing live at a Chinese takeaway in front of just 30 people as she celebrated the venue’s opening weekend. 

The 59-year-old, who played Heather Trott in the soap for five glorious years, has been on a career rollercoaster after losing her role in the soap in 2012.

Cheryl has since admitted she never put any savings away when she was earning big money and was even forced to use food banks to get by.

However, despite no longer appearing as a regular on TV screens, the star told MailOnline she ‘couldn’t be happier’ as she warmed up before her performance to the small crowd at the Dragon Lounge restaurant near her current home in Cleveleys, Lancashire.

Admitting she has never been one to care about money or materialistic items she said: ‘Look, I will be 60 in August and I have never been one to care about money. I am not like influencers and social media people who do things for money.

‘When I am not busy I do a lot of community projects, things like community theatre where I try and help other people develop their creative side.

‘I admit I have turned down a lot of things to my detriment, things that probably would have helped my career and, maybe, I would do things differently the second time around.

‘But even in EastEnders I did not want to act like the big Number One. To me it was just a job because that’s what I am, a performer.’

Cheryl made her first appearance as Heather on 26 June 2007 as the sidekick of character Shirley Carter (Linda Henry). 

Her character was known for her headbands, love of cheese and George Michael and she went on to win the ‘Funniest Performance’ award at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards.

She made her final screen appearance in March 2012 as a corpse, after being killed by Ben Mitchell (Joshua Pascoe). 

Speaking about leaving the soap, the star expressed her sadness but admitted she mainly feels grateful for the role which she originally thought would last four or five episodes. 

She explained: ‘When I got told I was leaving I was called up to an exec’s office and he was crying as he told me “People above me have told me you have to go. They want to develop other characters.”

‘But on my initial contract I was only supposed to be there for four or five episodes and in the end I got five years so I feel privileged to get that much out of it.

‘When it comes to an end you just have to deal with it. Some people believe the hype that surrounds them.’

Addressing the misconception that if you are on TV you are bringing in a high income, she continued: ‘The problem is people think that when you are an established face on TV that you are rich and have loads of money and there is some truth in it.

‘But I just spent the money. I didn’t bother about the cost of shopping or holidays or anything like that so I never put anything away, maybe I should have done. 

‘If I was mentoring a young actor today who was in my position when I was in EastEnders, then I suppose I would tell them to be more careful because it may not last.’

However Cheryl values experiences over money or owning stuff as she added: ‘But I still believe that experiences are better than owning things. Money comes and goes so why worry about it?

‘None of our family buy presents for each other, even at Christmas. Instead we spend money on doing things together.

‘Life is not about owning things. It is about memories with family and friends, those that are close to you.’

Looking to the future, Cheryl hinted she has a ‘very big’ upcoming project coming up as she teased: ‘I cannot say a word about it. I have got to keep schtum but I think there will be an announcement very soon.’

The star has also just finished starring as the Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella pantomime in Peterborough where she took to the stage alongside her son Alex Saddiqi, 25, who played Buttons.

Meanwhile she has been testing out a two hour special, An Evening With Cheryl Fergison, which is filled with anecdotes of her acting life and peppered with stories of the rejections that come every actor’s way.

She has also got a part in the sitcom, Mandy, starring Diane Morgan, an absurdist comedy running since 2019. 

Cheryl isn’t afraid to admit she has used food banks in the past when money has been scarce.

She added: ‘I think it is important that people should talk about having to use them. Lots of people like nurses do and people should realise everyone is just a couple of pay cheques away from having to do the same.

‘I suppose I should have invested some of the money I earned, maybe bought a house, but I didn’t.

‘I was born on a London council estate in different days. We lived on jam or sugar or tomato ketchup sandwiches and that is how people got by. 

‘But I have been working for over 40 years and I will keep on working.’