Samantha Womack is "broken" after her ‘EastEnders’ character was killed off.
Ronnie Mitchell and her sister Roxy (played by Rita Simons) departed the BBC One soap in dramatic scenes aired on New Year’s Day (01.01.17) – which showed the pair drowning in a pool – and Samantha is devastated that the Mitchell siblings are gone.
She tweeted: "I’m sorry I can’t respond to any comments..I’m honestly broken. An appropriate end to the darkest year ever.@OfficialRita @RealScottMaslen (sic)."
Rita added: "Thank you all for your lovely tweets. I don’t really have words right now. But words will come.. in good time #R&R (sic)."
And Scott Maslen, who plays Ronnie’s husband Jack Branning, added: "End of an era! #ronnieandroxy loved working with @sam_womack and @OfficialRita #eastenders #sadtimes thanks for all the tweets! (sic)."
Danny Dyer, who portrays pub landlord Mick Carter on the soap, also took to Twitter after the dramatic scenes aired.
He wrote: "Two beautifully complex Eastenders Icons. On screen chemistry personified. Nothing but love for ya’s #missed. @Sam_Womack @OfficialRita X (sic)."
Rita previously revealed she and Samantha were overwhelmed with emotion filming their final scenes after almost a decade in Albert Square, and had to take it in turns to support each other.
She said: "Samantha would have a day where she couldn’t stop crying and I would be really cold and strong and I would look after her. Then the next day it would be me who’d be set off by a packet of coffee or whatever and she would be strong.
"We’ve taken it in turns to be upset because one of us needs to be strong for the other."
And, although Rita is looking forward to whatever she takes on next, she admitted it was heartbreaking leaving behind the crew members she has worked with for several years.
She said: "I’m so exhilarated to be moving on and doing other stuff, but I left probably 150 crew that I adore – every single one of them, make-up, lighting, costume. I love them all, I’ve known them all for 10 years, day in, day out.
"It was that that kind of broke my heart, leaving them."
Samantha Womack ‘broken’ after EastEnders character killed off
