EastEnders star Rita Simons, best known for playing Roxy Mitchell, has announced she will undergo breast reduction surgery to alleviate pain caused by scoliosis. The 49-year-old actress shared the news with her followers on Instagram on Sunday, revealing the procedure is scheduled for three weeks' time.
Simons posted an X-ray of her spine and a video, captioning it: “Apart from the fact it’s a rancid habit that needed to go, there was another reason… surgery in 3 weeks. It’s finally time to say goodbye to my massively annoying boobs.” She explained that her breasts cause significant back pain, adding: “The pain they cause my back just isn’t necessary anymore.”
The actress, who has scoliosis, noted that spinal surgery is not an option for her due to the specific curvature of her spine. “My spine can’t be ‘fixed’, so my focus is on doing everything I can to reduce pain and slow the progression of the curves,” she said. “They’ll never be cured — so we work with what we’ve got.”
Simons also highlighted that adult scoliosis is not widely discussed and promised to keep her followers updated throughout her recovery. Fans responded with support, with one commenting: “I had mine out in October best decision I’ve ever made!” Another wrote: “I had no idea you had scoliosis! I too have scoliosis, and I’ve struggled to find anyone to relate to!”
The actress played Roxy Mitchell on BBC's EastEnders from 2007 to 2017, with brief returns in 2019 and 2023. She recently appeared in Channel 4's Hollyoaks as Marie Fielding.
