Samantha Womack talks EastEnders return

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mirror actress Samantha Womack talks about her forthcoming return to EastEnders.

Earlier this month it was confirmed that Womack is to reprise her role as Ronnie Mitchell on the BBC One soap for six months.

The character originally appeared for four years between 2007-2011 bowing out from the show in a highly controversial storyline that attracted a record number of complaints.

It saw Ronnie, who was later imprisoned for her actions, lose her baby son James to cot death before swapping him for neighbour Kat Moon’s (Jessie Wallace) baby son Tommy.

Now Ronnie is getting out of prison and is about to head back to Albert Square determined to put the past behind her.

Samantha reveals that she was eager to return to the soap as she missed playing her dramatic alter-ego.

“I’ve done other things and enjoyed them. I went to the West End and I’ve been working on some comedy, which was great.

“But deep down, thought-provoking, psychological drama is where my heart lies. EastEnders gives you an opportunity to do all that. It was only when I came away that I realised, actually, you don’t really get to do that anywhere else.

“I’m very, very fond of my character, I love the place and I love the people. I was knackered when I left but I never ruled out going back.”

Despite leaving two years ago, Samantha says that fans still often approach her about her character.

“When I left I went to do musical theatre, possibly the furthest thing you can get from the gritty drama of EastEnders. But still people would recognise me as Ronnie in the street all the time.

“When other characters started talking about Ronnie being due for release from prison earlier this year, it intensified.

“I started getting texts from friends and colleagues saying the other characters were talking about me on the show again and asking if I was ­going back.”

Samantha admits that she found filming the baby swap storyline that led to her character’s exit an intense experience and that she quit EastEnders as she did not want fans to tire of her troubled character.

“It was a brilliant plot-line but it was so intense and emotionally draining, I was exhausted. I was ready for a break, but I was conscious that the viewers were probably ready for a break from me, too.

“You can never take fame or popularity for granted.”

Samantha Womack will return to filming with EastEnders over the Summer.

See also:  Samantha Womack ‘Desperate’ to have another child