EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders Rita Simons has opened up about her hidden health condition as she shares her plans for the year as she vows to finally “focus on herself”
EastEnders star Rita Simons has opened up about a personal health battle that fans may never have known about, revealing that she’s been living with scoliosis, a condition affecting the curvature of her spine.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star in collaboration with Betway, Rita explained how the S-shaped curve in her back has remained largely under the radar but has become a major focus for her this year.
“I’ve been talking a lot recently on Instagram about my scoliosis,” Rita said. “I’ve got a curved spine. It’s S-shaped. And it’s really underexposed. So, I’ve been doing a lot of that, and there’s some really interesting things happening in that space.”
The actress, best known for her role as Roxy Mitchell on the BBC soap, admitted that 2026 is all about putting herself first.
She revealed that she has been turning down roles and opportunities that don’t align with her personal goals, a decision that marks a shift from previous years when she would often say yes to every offer.
“I’m much more focused on me this year,” she said.
“I’ve actually turned down a few jobs this year because I’m trying not to just say yes to everything and focus on the things that I love.
“This year is about making good decisions for me, more drama, more film. There are some potential conversations there as well. But this year is all about balance and not burning myself out, which I’ve done so much in the past.”
Despite stepping back from certain roles, Rita insists she doesn’t have any career regrets. “I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a mistake,” she said. “I believe everything is a learning curve.
“And if you make a mistake, it was sent to you for you to learn. So, no, I’ve been really lucky with my career. I’ve done amazing job after amazing job, so I don’t have any of that kind of feeling. I’m really happy and proud of everything that I’ve done to date.”
Fans of the soap legend will be pleased to hear that Rita is still exploring exciting opportunities, but she is making it clear that her health and personal wellbeing come first.
With a renewed focus on balance and self-care, it seems 2026 is shaping up to be a year of both growth and empowerment for the actress.
