The face we knew. The voice we trusted. The woman who brought fire and vulnerability to Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders is now turning the mirror inward—with brutal honesty. Rita Simons, 48, has spoken publicly about a decision she never imagined she’d have to make: dissolving the cosmetic fillers she once believed were enhancing her appearance.

Rita, who captivated BBC audiences from 2007 to 2017 alongside her on-screen sister Ronnie, has always been known for her fierce beauty and raw talent. But off-screen, a quieter, more personal battle was taking place—one that ultimately led her to admit something painful: she no longer recognized herself.

Taking to Instagram with candid vulnerability, Rita opened up about the moment that changed everything. “I’m not one to pretend I don’t have a little tweakage,” she confessed. “But I’ve really regretted having fillers over the years. They have built up over time and I was starting to resemble a pillow.”

It wasn’t just a sudden whim. This had been brewing for years—a slow evolution from enhancement to distortion, where the woman beneath was getting buried under too many touch-ups. With the help of cosmetic specialist Dr. Hennessy, she began the process of reversing it. “So lovely @drhennessycosmetic started dissolving them last week and today we’ve done the last bit,” Rita explained.

There was no drama in her tone, no finger-pointing. Just a woman reclaiming her face, her truth, and her power. “I’m not adverse to fillers,” she admitted, “but I’ve definitely learnt you need to be super careful about over doing it!” And to preempt the all-too-familiar flood of unsolicited opinions, she added firmly: “FYI in advance for the ‘you don’t need it’ comments…I know! That’s why it’s going!”

It was a declaration that resonated. The comments rolled in—warm, emotional, and supportive. “You don’t need any work,” one fan wrote. “You’re naturally beautiful.” Even EastEnders co-star John Partridge (Christian Clarke) chimed in with affection: “Fillers or not… always gorgeous.”

Yet Rita’s story doesn’t end with aesthetics. It’s about recognition—not just physical, but emotional. When one fan asked, “Was it just your lips?” she replied simply: “Lips and cheeks x.” No shame, no denial. Just truth.

This isn’t just about dissolving filler. It’s about dissolving the pressure. Dissolving the need to hide. Dissolving the unspoken expectations that fame silently enforces on women in the public eye.

Rita’s journey comes at a time when her legacy as Roxy still lives on. In 2023, she briefly returned to EastEnders for a dream-sequence cameo, sparking rumors and wishes for a full-blown return. That wish is shared by none other than her famous uncle—business titan and The Apprentice icon Lord Alan Sugar—who recently appeared on Rita’s TikTok joking about how she could make a comeback to Walford.

For fans still grieving the tragic underwater death of the Mitchell sisters, Rita’s continued presence in the public eye is a reminder: the actress behind the icon is still evolving. And in choosing honesty over image, Rita has once again proven why she remains one of the most beloved figures in soap history.

So as she peels back the layers—both literal and emotional—we’re left to ask:
Is Rita’s raw transformation the beginning of a new chapter… or the return of Roxy in disguise?