Rita Simons is in the "most wonderful place" mentally after suffering a "rough" few years.
Rita Simons opens up about how she got through depression
The 46-year-old actress - who is best known for having starred as Roxy Mitchell on BBC One soap opera 'EastEnders' - split from her husband Theo Silveston in 2018 after almost 15 years of marriage but admitted that she is now doing much better after enduring depression and breakdowns.
She told Closer magazine: "It's no secret that I've been through a rough few years. I got divorced and had my breakdowns, but now I'm in the most wonderful place outside of work that I have been in years! It was a deep sadness, I'd say a depression. I couldn't see the wood for the trees. It was all kind of lumped into one big mess and I was very ill a lot of the time."
Since leaving 'EastEnders' in 2017, Rita - who was diagnosed with spine condition scoliosis at the age of 19 - has competed on 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!', has appeared on stage in 'Legally Blonde' and 'Hairspray' and recently joined the cast of 'Hollyoaks' but admitted that it was her recent participation on BBC Two's 'Pilgrimage: The Road through Portugal' has been her "favourite" reality TV project even though her health at the time left her "seriously thinking" she would have to drop out.
She added: "I walk my do every day - I'm a massive walker. I also train every day and I've got a gym at home so I'm pretty hardcore. I'm feeling good and exercise is definitely a part of that.
"I was seriously thinking I was going to have to pull out ['Pilgrimage'], because I was in a bad way, health-wise, beforehand. I started having all sorts of treatments and I found this amazing IV drip. If it wasn't for that I would've cancelled, but I got through it just in the nick of time. Then it was fine, it was only my back that gave me any jip because I've got scoliosis.
"I've done a lot. I went to Australia and I did the jungle, and I did 'MasterChef' with [co-star] Su Polard, but 'The Pilgrimage' was my favourite show in terms of reality or documentary."
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