Preeya hails "positive" 'Enders' connection

Preeya Kalidas has rubbished suggestions that starring on a primetime soap might hinder her pop career.

Instead, the singer/actress - who played Amira Shah on EastEnders from May 2009 until April this year - called her connection with the BBC One show a "positive thing".

"A lot of people know me from the show and that can only help - I can talk about what I'm doing now with my music and the EastEnders thing makes it more interesting for people," she told DS.

"Nothing's guaranteed though - just because people watched me on the show doesn't mean they'll be into what I'm doing now."

Kalidas, who releases her debut single 'Shimmy' on Monday, also claimed not to be bothered by assumptions that she might be turning to music to make the most of her post-soap celebrity.

"All I can do is get on with what I'm doing and let them know this isn't something I've decided to do because I was on a soap," she said.

"Music has always been my passion. I've pursued it in the midst of acting - even when I was on EastEnders I was still recording. It just so happens that while I was on the show I got offered a deal. Now I've left the show I'm pursuing music."

> Click here to read our full interview with Preeya Kalidas