EastEnders Nina Wadia reveals she was asked to return to the soap last year — but turned it down for Hollywood

FORMER EastEnders star Nina Wadia has revealed she turned down a chance to return to the soap because she was involved in shooting a US comedy pilot for TV.

Nina's busybody alter-ego Zainab Masood was last seen on Albert Square in 2013, and bosses were keen to get her back in 2016.

But Nina has been given the chance of a lifetime, potentially to perform in a brand new show called Champions from American comic Mindy Kaling and Saturday Night Live's Charlie Grandy.

So sadly for fans of Zainab, who for now lives in Pakistan, it seems Nina may not be looking back towards Walford for a long while.

Nina, 47, told Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning: "They [BBC bosses] did [ask me back] last year, actually they did.

"But I was doing a pilot out in the states and I said I couldn't do it, I'm still waiting to hear on that [pilot]."

If the show gets commissioned by NBC, Nina explained what kind of character she'll be portraying: "I play a Persian nail salon owner who is an absolute piece of work, I love her.

"I will know in about seven weeks (if I've got the part)."

Even if megastardom does beckon Nina she has to think about practical steps with her family life, as she's mother to Tia, 13, and Aidan, 10.

"I didn't think it through," she admitted about the pilot opportunity. "I genuinely don't know what I'm going to do with my family, my life or anything."

Luckily, Nina hasn't totally ruled out coming back to BBC soap EastEnders, because she added: "You never say never in this business."

Meanwhile busy Nina's new British movie Finding Fatimah hits cinemas this Friday April 14, and follows a Muslim mother and son both trying to find love on the same dating website.

She said of the story: "It's a lovely, feel good rom-com... I play a mum, of course, I always play the mum, and she's a widow who is also looking for someone on this same website [as her son]."