Samantha Womack tells Soaplife that EastEnders' Ronnie Mitchell has done her time and is done with saying sorry… That sounds like fighting talk!
Ronnie’s back in Walford and they’re not exactly hanging out the bunting. She returns to Albert Square after two years in jail for stealing Kat’s son Tommy and has no idea her sister Roxy is engaged to Alfie. “Ronnie feels like she’s not in the Square that she left. It’s changed,” Samantha tells Soaplife. “But she won’t take a lot of grief because she feels like she’s done her time.” Do Kat, Alfie and Jack feel the same, though?
Is Ronnie expecting Roxy to meet her at the prison gates?
“She is, but Kat is there instead. It’s a complete surprise to see her and quite terrifying. Ronnie and Kat talk about their feelings and their experiences. Kat’s a lot more understanding about it now than she was when it happened.”
It must be a shock when Kat tells her Roxy and Alfie are engaged?
“It’s a little awkward. It’s understandable that Alfie feels very threatened and protective towards Tommy, but what’s lovely about it is that Ronnie doesn’t feel at all betrayed by Roxy. She says she understands and she wants Roxy to be happy.”
How does Ronnie feel when she sees Jack again?
“He refuses to talk to her and slams the door in her face the first time she goes to see him, which is upsetting. I think Ronnie still loves Jack, but she has to remove herself from love now in order to survive. She’s going to become a matriarch, someone who is fighting for the survival of her family.”
Scott [Maslen who plays Jack] is leaving soon… Will you be sad to see him go?
“Yes. Part of my reason for coming back was to be involved in his leaving storyline. I feel a huge loyalty to the character and to Scott. Our characters were very successful together. There are lots of tribute videos to Ronnie and Jack on the internet that I secretly watch.”
How long are you back for?
“Six months at the moment, mainly because I don’t know if the character is going to succeed. I’ll regroup in six months and talk about whether or not it has worked. I’m glad to be back. I felt Ronnie was unfinished business…”
