Former EastEnders star Rita Simons has publicly expressed her willingness to consider a dramatic return to Albert Square, nearly a decade after her iconic character was killed off.
A Door Left Open for Walford
The actress, who is now 48, shot to fame playing the vibrant Roxy Mitchell from 2007 onwards. Alongside Samantha Womack as her on-screen sister Ronnie, the pair were central to some of the soap's most memorable storylines. Their tenure, however, ended in tragedy on New Year's Day 2017, when both sisters drowned in a swimming pool during Ronnie's wedding celebrations.
Despite the definitive nature of her exit, rumours about a potential return have persisted. Simons briefly reappeared in a non-corporeal form in 2023, appearing as a hallucination to comfort her on-screen daughter, Amy Mitchell. Now, following a recent stint on Channel 4's Hollyoaks, the actress has addressed the constant speculation from loyal fans.
"We'd Definitely Have a Conversation"
In a new interview, Simons acknowledged the relentless questions about a comeback. "It just doesn’t stop!" she said, praising the resilience of her supporters. She confirmed that while she is currently focusing on gritty dramas, comedies, and gangster roles, the door to Walford is not closed. "Listen, if it was a meeting, we’d be there... Of course, if EastEnders came knocking, we’d definitely have a conversation," she stated.
Reflecting on her career post-EastEnders, which has included a UK tour of Legally Blonde and appearing on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, Simons suggested her time away might actually facilitate a return. She indicated that having "hung around long enough" in the BBC soap originally, a comeback could be a possibility from a narrative perspective.
Co-Star's Personal Journey
The conversation around the Mitchell sisters' legacy also brings in Samantha Womack's own path. Since leaving the soap, Womack has spoken candidly about the profound impact her time on the show had, describing the cast and crew as a genuine family through which she experienced "all sorts of emotional things."
She admitted to being "terrified" at the thought of leaving the security of the show, but her subsequent battle with breast cancer fundamentally altered her outlook on life. "The beauty of everything that happens to you, the ups, the downs, is the beautiful chaos of it all and what you'd miss if you weren't here," she shared. Following her treatment, Womack faced the challenge of rebuilding her career and confidence, turning down roles before finding a new sense of empowerment.
While EastEnders bosses have made no official comment, Simons' openness will undoubtedly fuel further speculation among fans about whether one of Walford's most memorable characters could somehow find her way back to the Square.
