'EastEnders': Roxy Mitchell Actress Rita Simons Reveals Her Heartbreak At Soap Axe

She's leaving alongside Samatha Womack, who plays her on-sister.

EastEnders’ actress Rita Simons has revealed her heartbreak at being axed from her role as Roxy Mitchell

The star is bowing out from the BBC One soap in the coming weeks, alongside on-screen sister Samantha Womack, who plays Ronnie, after the show’s new boss dropped them in a cast shake-up. 

Rita has now spoken for the first time since news of her exit was announced in August, admitting she has spent days on set crying while filming her final scenes. 

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Rita Simons is bowing out as EastEnders' Roxy Mitchell
BBC

However, Rita also admitted she saw her axing as “being given a kick”, believing the universe has guided her where to go next. 

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Roxy will be leaving with her sister Ronnie
BBC

Claiming she is “exhilarated” to be moving on from Albert Square, Rita added “it kind of broke her heart” leaving the cast and 150 crew members behind. 

Barbara Windsor - who played Roxy and Ronnie’s aunt, Peggy, until the matriarch was killed off earlier this year - previously slammed the decision to axe the characters, who will reportedly be killed off on New Year’s Day. 

Samantha then tweeted shortly after: “Feeling loved and supported by my Auntie P. Love her forever.”

It was recently announced Rita had landed her first post-’EastEnders’ role, playing Paulette in a touring production of West End show ‘Legally Blonde’. 

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