EastEnders star Rita Simons finds love with former co-star weeks after marriage split
The Roxy Mitchell actress announced she had split from her husband of 14 years earlier this month
Former EastEnders star Rita Simons has found love again weeks after announcing she’d split from her husband of 14 years, according to reports.
The 43-year-old actress, who is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in the soap, is now said to be dating her Legally Blonde The Musical co-star Ben Harlow.
Rita played salon owner Paulette Bonafonte in the production based on the 2001 movie, while Ben played her love interest delivery driver Kyle.
After the pair spent from September 2017 to June 2018 touring the show together, their romance is said to have translated into real life, claims The Sun.
The paper reports that Rita was seen with a packed bag heading for an overnight trip with Ben and her dog Harry.
The romance rumours come after Rita’s spokesperson confirmed her 14 year marriage to hairdresser Theo Silverston was over.
The couple share two daughters with Theo moving out of the family home ‘some time ago’, according to Rita’s rep.
“They are currently finalising their divorce, and amicably co-parenting their two daughters,” she added.
Rita, the niece of business mogul Lord Sugar, rose to fame playing Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders in 2007.
Her on screen sister Samantha Womack, who played Ronnie Mitchell, also revealed she had split from her husband this month.
Samantha sad her marriage to ‘soulmate’ Mark was over but they are continuing to live together at their home in Bedordshire.
Samantha and Mark are parents to children Benjamin, 19, and Lili Rose, 15, while she is also stepmum to Mark’s son Michael, 25, from a previous relationship.
She told OK! magazine : “Our family home is big enough and we’re co-existing happily. There’s no rush to change things
“But now feels like the right time to be honest and admit we’re no longer together.”
Mark is also an actor and they met on the set of police drama Liverpool 1 back in 1998 before they tied the knot in 2009.
Samantha and Rita left Albert Square in a shocking New Year storyline that saw them drown together in a hotel swimming pool after Ronnie’s wedding day.
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