EastEnders Stars Womack and Simons Reunite Nine Years After On-Screen Deaths

EastEnders stars Samantha Womack and Rita Simons have reunited, delighting fans nearly a decade after their characters, sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, met a tragic end on the show. The actresses, who played the iconic siblings, shared photos of their beach outing on Instagram, but were quick to dismiss any speculation about a potential return to the BBC soap.

Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell drowned in a New Year's Day episode in 2017. Simons posted images of the reunion, captioning them to clarify, "So… before anyone asks… we are just 2 mates hanging out. No secret signals we promise. Please don’t say it! We want to assure you…we are dead! We aren’t coming back…I am saying it now before the comments start."

Both actresses expressed their fondness for their time on EastEnders and their enduring sisterly bond off-screen. Simons added, "We loved every second of being R and R and we are still like sisters….but we are definitely [skull emoji]. Working on some other exciting things together that we hope we will be able to tell you more about soon!"

In other professional news, Samantha Womack recently withdrew from the UK theatre tour of "By Royal Appointment." Laura Main, a star from "Call The Midwife," will replace her in the production, which explores the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her dresser. The play opened in Cambridge on September 21 and is scheduled to tour various theaters across the UK.

Earlier this year, Womack hinted at a potential end to her relationship with partner Oliver Farnworth. She posted a cryptic message on Instagram that led to speculation from fans and colleagues alike, including a comment from Simons.

Womack and Farnworth, an actor known for his role in "Emmerdale" and "Coronation Street," began dating in 2019 after working together on a stage adaptation of "The Girl On The Train." Their relationship started approximately a year after Womack's divorce from her husband of nineteen years. She has two adult children from her previous marriage.

In 2022, Womack was diagnosed with breast cancer. She later moved to Valencia, Spain, with Farnworth. The actress has spoken about the emotional toll of her health battle, including the death of her dog, Lola, which occurred on the same day as Queen Elizabeth II's passing.