Rita Simons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rita Simons
Simons in 2016
Born	Rita Joanne Simons (1977-03-10) 10 March 1977 (age 48) Whipps Cross, London, England
Other names	Rita Silveston
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	2000–present
Known for	Role of Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders
Television	Mile High Dream Team London's Burning EastEnders I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Hollyoaks
Spouse(s)	Theo Silveston ​ ​ (m. 2004; separated 2018)​
Children	2
Relatives	Alan Sugar (uncle)

Rita Joanne Simons (born March 10, 1977) is an English actress and singer. She is most famous for playing Roxy Mitchell in the BBC TV show EastEnders. She played Roxy from 2007 to 2017. Her character, Roxy, was written out of the show at the same time as her on-screen sister, Ronnie Mitchell (played by Samantha Womack).

Rita won many awards for her acting on EastEnders. One big award was the National Television Award in 2008 for "Most Popular Newcomer".

Besides EastEnders, Rita Simons has been a contestant on the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She has also performed in many plays and musicals. In 2024, she joined the cast of the TV show Hollyoaks as Marie Fielding.

Early Life and Family

Rita Simons was born on March 10, 1977, in Whipps Cross, London. Her parents are Susan and Mark Simons. Both of her parents are Jewish. She has an older brother named Ben.

Rita is also the niece of a famous businessman, Lord Sugar. He is well-known for being on the BBC reality show The Apprentice.

Rita's Career Journey

Music and Early Acting Roles

Before becoming a well-known actress, Rita Simons was part of a music group called Girls@Play. They had a few popular songs, including "Airhead". They also sang a cover of "Respectable" by Mel and Kim.

After that, Rita joined another group called Charli. They released a song called "Feel Me".

Rita also appeared in some TV dramas. She was in Dream Team in 2002 and Mile High in 2003. She also had a role in the show London's Burning.

Playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders

On May 11, 2007, it was announced that Rita would join EastEnders. She would play Roxy Mitchell, and Samantha Womack would play her sister, Ronnie Mitchell. Rita said she had always watched EastEnders and dreamed of being part of the Mitchell family.

Rita took a short break from EastEnders in late 2015. This allowed her to perform in a Snow White play during Christmas and New Year. In August 2016, it was announced that Rita and Samantha Womack would both leave EastEnders. Their characters, Roxy and Ronnie, drowned in a swimming pool on New Year's Day 2017.

Rita later made a voice appearance in May 2019. This happened when Roxy's ex-husband, Sean Slater, listened to an old voicemail from her. She also made a brief appearance on April 27, 2023. This was when her daughter, Amy, imagined Roxy during a family meeting.

Other Acting and TV Work

In 2017 and 2018, Rita Simons played Paulette Bonafonte in the UK tour of Legally Blonde: the Musical.

On November 12, 2018, it was confirmed that Rita would be a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She was the fourth person to leave the show on December 4, 2018.

In 2019, Rita played Miss Hedge in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. She was also set to play Velma von Tussle in the 2021 show Hairspray in London. In 2022, she joined the cast of the TV show Professor T.

In 2023, Rita took part in Pilgrimage: The Road Through Portugal. This BBC Two series followed seven celebrities on a journey to Fátima, Portugal. Rita was the only Jewish pilgrim and visited an old synagogue in Tomar.

It was announced in 2023 that Rita Simons would join the TV show Hollyoaks. She will play Marie Fielding, who is the mother of a character named Joel Dexter. Her first appearance was in 2024.

Helping Others: Charity Work

Rita Simons has supported several charities.

In December 2009, she visited her old school, Watford Grammar School for Girls. She helped open their Christmas fair.

In December 2010, Rita helped launch the RNID Christmas Concert. She shared that her five-year-old daughter is deaf.

In July 2011, Rita signed autographs at a summer fair for St Nicholas Primary School.

In December 2011, she hosted the yearly Action on Hearing Loss concert.

Rita also appeared on the TV show Big Star's Little Star on April 1, 2015. She won £13,000 for charity on the show.

Rita's Life Outside Work

In August 2004, Rita married hairdresser Theo Silveston. They have twin daughters. The couple separated in 2018.

Rita is very good friends with Samantha Womack. Samantha played her sister, Ronnie Mitchell, on EastEnders. She is also good friends with Danniella Westbrook, who played her cousin, Sam Mitchell, on the show.

Rita has been diagnosed with scoliosis, which is a curve in the spine. In July 2018, she also shared that she has been diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and insomnia.

TV Shows and Movies

Rita Simons has appeared in many TV shows and a movie. Here are some of them:

Television Roles

Film Roles

Theatre Performances

Awards and Nominations

Rita Simons has won and been nominated for several awards for her acting.

See also

In Spanish: Rita Simons para niños

• List of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) contestants