The Traitors star Roxy Wilson has opened up about her harrowing experience in the foster care system, revealing that she was rejected by her foster family after falling ill at the age of four. The 32-year-old, who was adopted by co-star Judy, appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside Judy to share her story and encourage others to foster.
Roxy recalled visiting Judy in Doncaster for a trial week when she was four years old. During the visit, she caught the flu, and her foster carers in Bristol decided they did not want her back. 'I had to come from Bristol to Doncaster for the visit. Then I was a bit unwell,' Roxy explained. 'I remember the call and the foster carer saying, “Well don’t bring her back then.”'
Judy, who already had three sons with her husband, immediately stepped in. 'She came for a week and got flu and they basically said, “There’s no point bringing her back,”' Judy said. 'I fell in love with her. The boys did as well. It was incredible. The best thing I ever did.'
Roxy admitted that being let down by foster parents felt normal at the time. 'I was used to it – I was passed so much. It wasn’t out of the extraordinary to not go back somewhere,' she said. She also criticised the foster system, noting that some carers prioritised the financial allowance over the children's welfare. 'There was one foster placement in particular that had quite a lot of us children and none of us were cared for correctly,' she said.
Judy called for more funding for the fostering system to support carers and keep siblings together. 'It’s the most rewarding thing ever,' she said. 'I’m just a normal person, so you need to reach out to us. We can give you support.' Roxy recently announced she is expecting her own baby, sharing the news on Instagram.
