She was once the fierce, glamorous, and haunted Ronnie Mitchell — a name that echoed through the halls of Albert Square for nearly a decade. But in 2024, EastEnders star Samantha Womack is proving once again that she’s far more than a soap icon. In her boldest career move yet, Sam is stepping into the world of elite sports psychology — on stage.

Womack has officially joined the cast of the acclaimed play Dear England, a dramatized journey through Gareth Southgate’s time as manager of the England men’s football team. And Sam’s role is nothing short of revolutionary: she’ll portray Pippa Grange, the real-life psychologist credited with transforming the emotional heart of English football.

For longtime fans who remember Ronnie Mitchell’s turbulent life on EastEnders — from the iconic “Who Killed Archie?” arc to the tragic 2017 drowning storyline that claimed both Ronnie and her sister Roxy on Ronnie’s wedding day — this new role is a startling departure.

Gone are the cocktails, the chaos, and the Walford drama. In Dear England, Womack is taking on a character who changed not just lives, but the culture of an entire team under crushing national scrutiny.

The play, which has earned critical acclaim for its compelling blend of sport, psychology, and patriotism, will now feature Sam in one of its most nuanced and powerful roles. Her character, Pippa Grange, is no mere side figure. She is the emotional architect behind Southgate’s rise — a woman who asked some of the toughest men in football to embrace their fears, not bury them.

“I’m so excited to be returning to the stage,” Sam said in a heartfelt Instagram video. “Dear England is entertaining, thought-provoking, and brilliantly staged. Pippa Grange is such an inspiring role — she changed history by helping that team grow not just as athletes, but as people.”

Sam’s passion for theatre is nothing new. Since her EastEnders departure, she has dazzled on stage in productions like The Girl on the Train — where she met her real-life partner, actor Oliver Farnworth — and the musical 42nd Street. But Dear England marks something different: a role grounded in real-world relevance, at the intersection of sport, emotion, and cultural change.

Co-starring Doctors alum David Sturzaker as Gareth Southgate, the production will tour major UK venues this autumn, hitting cities including Plymouth, Leeds, Norwich, and Wimbledon. As part of the anniversary buzz around the England team’s recent transformation, the show promises to blend drama and triumph in equal measure.

What makes this casting even more thrilling is the sheer contrast. Sam Womack once ruled EastEnders with steely-eyed intensity and buried pain. Now, she’s stepping into the shoes of a woman who taught others how to confront their pain — and thrive.

It’s a career pivot that speaks volumes. Sam is no longer revisiting old roles or trying to recapture the magic of Ronnie Mitchell. She’s charting a new path — one grounded in power, purpose, and progress.

As Dear England prepares to take its message across the UK, Samantha Womack’s presence adds gravitas — and no doubt, a few surprises. Because if Ronnie Mitchell taught us anything, it’s that behind every fierce exterior is a woman carrying the weight of untold stories. And Sam Womack is ready to tell a new one.

Will this be the role that redefines Samantha Womack for a whole new generation of fans?