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Rita Simons
Rita Joanne Simons was born 10 March, 1977 in Essex. She is an English-Jewish actress who plays Roxy Slater in EastEnders.
She has made appearances in the British television shows Mile High, Dream Team and London's Burning.[2]
On 11 May 2007, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of EastEnders as Roxy Mitchell, alongside Samantha Janus as 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."[1][3]
Her portrayal of Roxy Mitchell won her Best Newcomer at the Digital Spy Soap Awards along with Best Onscreen Partnership for her character partnership with Ronnie Mitchell played by Samantha Janus. She also won Best Newcomer at the TV Now awards and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2008 British Soap Awards, but lost to Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan. She also won the award for Best Newcomer at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards and won the award for Most Popular Newcomer at National Television Awards 2008.
Before her acting career, Rita was in the band Girls@Play, who had a couple of songs before splitting up. Their songs included Airhead and they covered Mel and Kim's "Respectable".
Simons is the niece of multi-millionaire businessman Sir Alan Sugar[2], who is best known in the UK for the TV show The Apprentice. In August 2006[4] she married hairdresser Theo Silverston, whom she met through a friend when she was 19, and with whom she has twin daughters, Jaimee Leah and Maiya Sammy Silverston (born April 2006). Rita is best friends with co-star Samantha Womack, who plays her on-screen sister Ronnie Mitchell.[