Rita Simons
Rita Joanne Simons (born 10 March 1977) is an English actress, singer, and model from London, who plays Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Early and personal life
Simons is the niece of multi-millionaire businessman Lord Sugar, who is best known in the BBC reality series The Apprentice. She has an older brother, Ben Simons. In August 2006 she married hairdresser Theo Silveston, whom she met through a friend when she was 19, and with whom she has twin daughters, Jaimee Leah Silveston and Maiya Sammy Silveston (born April 2006; Maiya has been deaf since birth). Simons is best friends with co-star Samantha Womack, who played her on-screen sister Ronnie Mitchell. In March 2008, The Sun reported that Simons was diagnosed with scoliosis disorder, which causes the spine to bend side to side, and is the reason why Simons is two inches shorter than she should be.
Career
Simons has made appearances in the Sky1 dramas Mile High and Dream Team, as well as the ITV drama London's Burning. On 11 May 2007, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of EastEnders as Roxy Mitchell, alongside Samantha Womack who played Roxy's sister Ronnie Mitchell. Of her role, Simons said: "I've always watched EastEnders and it's been my dream to become part of the Mitchell family." Before her acting career, Simons was in the band Girls@Play, who had a couple of hit singles before splitting up. Their songs included "Airhead" and a cover of Mel and Kim's "Respectable". Simons then joined a different group called Charli with three other members, including Shar from the Paradiso Girls, and released a single titled "Feel Me".
