Rita Simons The Actress Who Made Roxy Mitchell a British Icon

Who Is Rita Simons?

Some actors step into a role and make it entirely their own — and that is exactly what Rita Simons did with Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders. Born on 10 March 1977 in Whipps Cross, London, Rita Simons is an English actress, singer, and model who has spent over two decades making her mark across television, music, theatre, and beyond.

While millions of viewers first fell in love with her through Rita Simons EastEnders storylines, her career tells a much richer story. From fronting a pop group in the early 2000s to commanding West End stages and joining the cast of Rita Simons Hollyoaks, she has consistently proven that she is far more than a one-show wonder. Whether fans are curious about her acting credits, her famous family, or simply asking how old is Rita Simons today — she is 49 years old as of 2026 — there is plenty to explore about this talented British star.

Quick Facts About Rita Simons

Early Life and Family Background

Rita Simons was born into a close-knit Jewish family in east London. Her parents, Susan (née Franks) and Mark Simons, both practise Judaism, and faith has remained an important part of Rita’s identity throughout her life. She grew up alongside her older brother Ben and spent much of her childhood in the Essex and London area, attending Watford Grammar School for Girls.

One of the most frequently discussed aspects of her background is her famous family connection. The relationship between Rita Simons and Alan Sugar is one that often surprises people — through her paternal aunt’s marriage to Lord Alan Sugar, Rita is his niece by marriage. Her cousins on that side of the family are Simon, Daniel, and Louise Sugar, the children of Ann Simons and the well-known Apprentice star. It is a connection that has followed Rita throughout her public life, though she has always been keen to carve out her own identity in the entertainment world.

From an early age, Rita showed a passion for performing, and it would not be long before that drive took her straight into the music industry.

Music Career — Girls@Play and Beyond

Before she became a household name on EastEnders, Rita Simons was making noise as a pop singer. Around the year 2000, she joined the girl group Girls@Play, a UK act that enjoyed a brief but energetic run in the early noughties. The group scored a couple of notable hit singles, including “Airhead” and a cover of the Mel and Kim classic “Respectable,” earning themselves a fanbase and some solid chart attention between 2000 and 2001.

When Girls@Play went their separate ways, Rita did not step back from music — she joined another group called Charli, continuing to develop her performance skills and stage presence. Although her music career was relatively short-lived, it gave her the confidence and performance polish that would later serve her brilliantly in West End productions and TV roles alike.

Early Acting Career

Rita Simons made her television acting debut in 2002, appearing in the popular football drama Dream Team. It was a small role, but it marked the beginning of her transition from singer to screen actress. She followed it up with an appearance in London’s Burning and a guest spot in the Sky 1 drama Mile High in 2003, gradually building up her experience with each new credit.

These early roles were stepping stones — modest parts that gave her the platform to sharpen her craft. Nobody quite knew it at the time, but something much bigger was just around the corner.

EastEnders and the Role That Made Her Famous

In May 2007, it was officially announced that Rita Simons would be joining the cast of the BBC’s flagship soap opera EastEnders as Roxy Mitchell. The character was the younger sister of Ronnie Mitchell, played by Samantha Womack, and the two instantly sparked on screen together. The Rita Simons EastEnders chapter quickly became one of the most talked-about in the show’s long history.

Rita portrayed Roxy for a remarkable decade, clocking up well over 1,000 episodes and becoming one of the most recognisable faces in British soap. Her real-life friendship with Samantha Womack mirrored their on-screen sisterhood beautifully, and audiences could feel the genuine warmth and chemistry between them. Her performance earned her the 2008 National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer — a prestigious accolade that cemented her status as one of soap television’s brightest talents.

In January 2017, EastEnders delivered one of its most dramatic exits in years: Roxy Mitchell drowned in a swimming pool on New Year’s Day, alongside her sister Ronnie, in a heartbreaking double departure that left the nation stunned. It was the end of an era, but not the last time fans would see Rita’s beloved character. She returned to the show via voiceover in 2019, and then appeared once more in 2023 as a vision to her on-screen daughter, giving the character a touching final moment of legacy.

West End Theatre and Stage Success

After leaving EastEnders, Rita Simons threw herself into the world of musical theatre with impressive energy, and the results proved she had every right to be there. In the 2017–18 touring production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, she took on the role of the loveable Paulette Bonafonte, winning over theatre audiences across the country.

She followed that with the role of Miss Hedge in the critically celebrated Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and was later cast as the glamorous villain Velma von Tussle in the 2020 revival of Hairspray. She also appeared in the supernatural thriller The House on Cold Hill, performed the pantomime role of the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Alban Arena, and took part in a production of Aladdin. Her stage work has shown time and again that Rita Simons is a genuinely versatile performer — equally at home in comedy, drama, and full-blown musical theatre.

Rita Simons Movies and TV Shows Beyond the Soaps

Reality TV and Other Television Appearances

Away from scripted drama, Rita Simons has made some memorable appearances in the world of reality and factual television. In 2018, she joined the cast of Series 18 of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in 8th place out of 11 celebrities. She also appeared on the accompanying spin-off, I’m a Celebrity…Extra Camp.

In 2022, she popped up in the acclaimed drama Professor T, taking on the role of Debbie Sanderson. Then in 2023, she appeared in the BBC Two series Pilgrimage: The Road Through Portugal, joining a group of celebrities on a spiritual journey to Fátima — a particularly meaningful experience for Rita, as she was the only Jewish pilgrim in the group, and she took the opportunity to visit a historic former synagogue in Tomar.

One of the most recent additions to Rita Simons movies and TV shows came in March 2024, when she joined the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Marie Fielding, taking over the role from a previous actress and bringing her unmistakable energy to the long-running show. She appeared in 37 episodes before departing in October 2025, adding yet another soap credit to an already impressive television résumé.

Film Work

Rita made her big-screen debut in The Krays: Dead Man Walking (2018), playing the character Lisa Prescott. While she has not pursued film extensively, the role demonstrated her ability to hold her own in a gritty, dramatic feature.

Podcast and Advocacy Work

In recent years, Rita Simons has added yet another string to her bow as a podcast host. Her show, “They All Need Therapy”, is a candid and often genuinely funny dive into conversations about mental health, personal struggles, relationships, and everything life throws at you. It reflects her broader commitment to openness and honesty around wellbeing — something she speaks about regularly and without pretence.

Rita has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness for years, sharing her own experiences in a way that has resonated deeply with fans. She is equally passionate about deaf awareness, a cause close to her heart because of her daughter Maiya, who was diagnosed as deaf. Rita first publicly disclosed this in December 2010, and since then she has consistently used her platform to raise visibility for the deaf community and support families navigating similar journeys.

Personal Life

Rita Simons’ personal life has been just as eventful as her professional one, and she has never shied away from talking about it. She first married hairdresser Theo Silveston in August 2004, having met him through a mutual friend when she was just 19. Together, they welcomed twin daughters — Jaimee Leah and Maiya Sammy — who are among the most important people in Rita’s world.

Rita Simons’ daughters have grown up in the public eye to some extent, particularly Maiya, whose deafness became an advocacy focus for her mother. Rita and Theo divorced in 2018 after more than a decade of marriage.

On a happier note, Rita found love again and married Ben Harlow on 15 September 2025, beginning a new chapter in her personal life.

On the health front, Rita was diagnosed with scoliosis — a condition that causes the spine to curve — which reportedly left her a couple of inches shorter than she would otherwise be. She has been open about living with the condition. Alongside her health journey and advocacy work, Rita continues to practise Judaism, which remains a meaningful part of who she is.

As for Rita Simons husband and family in 2026, she appears to be in a very settled, happy place — personally and professionally.

Rita Simons Net Worth

Given everything she has accomplished across three decades in entertainment, it should come as no surprise that Rita Simons has built a very comfortable life for herself. Rita Simons net worth is estimated to be around £10 million, reflecting her long career across multiple income streams.

Her earnings have come from her decade-long run on EastEnders, her touring West End productions, reality television appearances, her music work with Girls@Play and Charli, her stint on Rita Simons Hollyoaks, podcast ventures, and various brand partnerships over the years. It is a net worth built not on overnight fame but on consistent, hard-earned work across virtually every corner of the entertainment industry.

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