EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders’ Ronnie Mitchell star Samantha Womack discussed how a comeback to Albert Square could work, following the recent return of Michelle Ryan
EastEnders legend Samantha Womack has opened up about a possible return to the famous Albert Square, eight years on from her tragic on-screen death.
The 52-year-old stepped onto the Walford scene as Ronnie Mitchell back in 2007, alongside her younger soap sister Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons).
The troublesome sisters went on to become the centre of many storylines, which included Roxy having an affair with Ronnie’s on-screen fiancé at the time Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).
In 2017, the siblings tragically died together after they drowned in a hotel swimming pool on the night of Ronnie and Jack’s wedding.
Since the sisters’ deaths, fans have called for them to make a return. While this may seem impossible given the circumstances, Samantha said she’s been sent theories from fans about how a comeback could work.
Following Michelle Ryan’s return to the soap after 20 years off-screen last week, the actress said: “We’ve had so many people ask me [about a return].”
Discussing how it could work, she went on to say: “The only way we could return is if it wasn’t actually a real death.
There have been stories where people have faked their own death, and [some have said] you can take some kind of chemical.”
Recalling one theory from a fan, she said they claimed Ronnie could’ve taken a drug which may have stopped her heart beating for just a few minutes.
What’s more, they pointed out that her relative Billy Mitchell (Perry Finwick) worked at an undertakers, so he could’ve therefore “been in” on a possible fake death.
Laughing at the theories, she continued: “I mean, it’s soap, anything is possible but I don’t think it could be a Dallas dream, I don’t think soap does dreams the way Dallas did.”
Furthermore, Samantha says she wouldn’t make a comeback unless her on-screen sister was by her side.
She added: “I would never go back without her, we’re joined at the hip really like the characters, they were one character, they were the same, the Mitchell sisters were like one organism.”
Since leaving the soap, Samantha has had roles in West End shows such as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and 42nd Street. Rita, on the other hand, continued soap life with a role in Hollyoaks, and she has also featured in the ITV reality series Drama Queens.
Speaking of potentially returning to EastEnders last year, she appeared to poke fun at the soap’s previous fake deaths storylines.
She said on Good Morning Britain: “Listen, [there] was Dirty Den’s return, Michelle [Collins] as Cindy [Beale], I think in soap when you get asked to go in a coffin, you say no. I did!
“The thing is we’re at Hollyoaks now and I have to say, it’s gorgeous, it’s like coming home but just up north. I know how soap works, I know the system. I’m so comfortable there. So, for now, I love where I am.”
