SOAP legend Michelle Collins has spoken about her return to EastEnders as the infamously evil Cindy Beale – and the ‘risk’ has paid off handsomely.

As well as playing the Walford villain, actress Michelle also runs a firm called It Worx Limited – which she started in 1996.

It takes in cash from her telly work and its bottom line has been swelled by money from her lucrative EastEnders contract.

The business was down to £20,000 just before she inked her new deal.

But figures sent to Companies House and published this week for the 12 months to March this year show cash reserves of almost £200,000.

And she has a Corporation Tax bill of £69,694 – meaning her earnings were around five times that sum.

Even though Michelle was thrilled when the show’s former executive producer Chris Clenshaw asked her to come back to Albert Square, the star wasn’t sure how Cindy would be received by viewers.

Speaking at the TRIC Awards at Grosvenor House in London, Michelle said: “I didn’t know if people would be happy that she was back. I really didn’t know, you have to take that risk!

“But, I think she’s gone down quite well.”

Cindy – who is the former wife of Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and the ex-wife of George Knight (Colin Salmon) – has caused a lot of drama since her return, such as having an affair with George’s son Junior (Micah Balfour).

But Michelle thinks Cindy’s bad behaviour has gone down well with EastEnders’ viewers.

She said: “I think people are liking her.

“People don’t want to see nice Cindy. She was nice for a while, and they don’t want to see nice Cindy – I promise you, they don’t!

“Sometimes I’ll pick up the scripts, and I’ll go, ‘Oh no, you can’t. Really? Having an affair with his son? No, it’ll be fine, people love her.'”

The actress first joined EastEnders as scheming Cindy in 1988 for a two-year stint.

She returned in 1992 for six years before taking a longer break.

The 63-year-old thrilled fans with a shock comeback to the BBC soap after a 25-year hiatus in 2023.

It was revealed that Ian Beale’s ex did not actually die during childbirth in prison and was instead put into witness protection under a new identity – Rose Sawyer – for decades.

The star is set to take to the stage this summer in a one woman show at the Edinburgh festival, called Motorhome Marilyn – a play about a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.

EastEnders bosses have let her have a month off, but Michelle has kept tight-lipped about how writers will create Cindy’s exit storyline.