Rita Simons, best known for playing Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders, has opened up about the tumultuous period following her exit from the soap. The actress, 44, described the aftermath as 'one of the worst times' of her life, dealing with the end of her marriage and a nervous breakdown.
Simons suffered a nervous breakdown in 2019 while starring in the play The House on Cold Hill. She battled depression and insomnia, and her weight plummeted due to stress. The actress credits the lockdown for helping her cope with her issues.
Simons has twin daughters, Maiya, 15, and Jaimee, 16. Maiya was diagnosed as profoundly deaf in her right ear at six months old. Simons has had to work through tough times to get back on track, but she remains focused on her career and family.
After leaving EastEnders in 2017 when her character was killed off alongside her on-screen sister Ronnie, Simons expressed disappointment. 'I wish they hadn’t killed us off. I haven’t quite made peace with the fact we are dead,' she told the Daily Star Sunday.
Simons and her husband of 14 years, hairdresser Theo Silveston, separated in 2018. The split took a toll on her mental and physical health, but she has since moved forward. She recently appeared on The Chase, giving fans a glimpse of her new career direction.
